Protesters Arrested at Emory Demonstration

Several anti-Israel protesters, including a pair of professors, were detained on April 25 after demonstrating on the Emory University campus.

The demonstrators constructed an “encampment for Gaza” and took turns riling up the crowd via a bullhorn and divisive rhetoric, including declaring their support for Gaza in Hamas’ war with Israel.

Police officers used zip ties to detain the protesters // YouTube screenshot

As part of their demonstration, the protesters called for an end to “Israel’s genocide in Gaza” and demanded that Emory sever any association with the Atlanta Police Foundation and Israeli Defense Forces.

Georgia State Patrol and Atlanta Police Department officers joined Emory campus police on the scene in an attempt to contain the situation. According to reports, the officers informed the protesters that they were trespassing, and that the area would need to be cleared. Many of the protesters refused to leave and quickly found themselves tackled to the ground by some of the officers. Shortly after, officers targeted the crowd with a pepper spray-like irritant and then used a Taser on at least one of the protesters to subdue them.

This poster was displayed during the demonstration // Photo Courtesy of Twitter

According to The Emory Wheel, police officers donned gas masks and used zip ties to arrest individuals after tackling them to the ground.

Emory University President Gregory Fenves issued a statement after the incident, noting that several dozen individuals who were not Emory students staged the demonstration with the purpose of disrupting the Emory community and the school’s final exam schedule.

“I ask each of you to use judgement and show compassion for everyone with whom you share this community,” Fenves wrote in his statement. “It is essential that we preserve an atmosphere of respect on our campuses at all times.”

Noelle McAfee, Chair of Emory’s Philosophy Department, was among those arrested during the demonstration. Emory Economics Professor Caroline Fohlin was also detained.

To control the crowd, officers utilized a pepper spray-like irritant and a Taser // YouTube screenshot

The April 25 protest was just one of a series of demonstrations currently taking place on college campuses across the country. Most recently, protesters have disrupted school communities on campuses at Harvard University, Columbia University, New York University, the University of Southern California, and the University of Texas.

Fenves issued a follow-up statement on April 26 regarding the protest:

The encampment that was set up yesterday in the early morning on the Quad in front of the Commencement stage was quickly cleared by law enforcement and a number of arrests were made. Following these events, students gathered outside Convocation Hall to organize a protest. Throughout the afternoon, Emory students and community members assembled peacefully on the Quad. The afternoon events were monitored by open expression observers and Emory Police Department (EPD) officers were on site to provide support as needed.

Early yesterday evening, a large group of protestors left the Quad and gathered outside the Candler School of Theology. Some protestors pinned police officers against the building’s glass doors, threw objects at them, and attempted to gain access to the building. These actions against officers prompted an increased law enforcement presence on campus. Protestors then returned to the Quad and eventually dispersed. No further arrests were made.

I am saddened by what took place at Emory yesterday. To watch these highly organized, outside protestors arrive on campus in vans, construct an encampment, and overtake the Quad just days after it was vandalized with hateful and threatening messages was deeply disturbing. I also know that some of the videos are shocking, and I am horrified that members of our community had to experience and witness such interactions. The fact that members of our community were arrested upsets me even more and is something that I take very seriously. To the best of our ability, we are working with law enforcement agencies to assist detained community members and expedite their release.

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp issued a statement on April 26 as well, writing, “Across the country, Americans have watched with horror as radicals have terrorized Jewish students and forced them to evacuate from their dormitories and classrooms. College campuses are designed to be places of learning and often civil discourse, but in Georgia, they will never be a safe haven for those who promote terrorism and extremism that threatens the safety of students.”

Gov. Kemp continued, “I am thankful for state and local law enforcement who responded swiftly to Emory University’s call for support and restored order on campus. Just as we have always done in the past, we will respect the right to peacefully protest, but those who choose to make the unwise decision to use our college campuses to intimidate, make threats, promote violence, or in any other way break the law will be met with the full force of the law and brought to justice.”