Over 20 Arrested as UT Austin Students Protest War in Palestine

Hundreds of students at the University of Texas at Austin walked out of classes on Wednesday to protest the war in Palestine, Gaza, Israel, with students demanding that the university divest from companies that manufacture machinery used in the conflict. The protest, organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Committee of Austin, was met with a heavy police presence, including officers in riot gear and mounted troopers.

As the protesters gathered on the South Lawn, law enforcement officers ordered them to disperse, warning that they could face criminal trespass charges if they did not heed the call. Over 20 individuals were arrested, mostly on charges of trespassing, as state troopers and police officers tried to stop the pro-Palestine protesters on campus. "Off our campus," the protesters chanted, demanding divestment.

The university had previously warned the organizers that the protest would violate campus policies and would not be allowed to proceed, citing potential disruptions to campus operations and final exams. "The university will not allow this campus to be 'taken' and protesters to derail our mission," a UT Austin spokesperson stated.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott condemned the protest, saying "Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas" and that students participating in "hate-filled antisemitic protests" should be expelled. However, the Texas Conference of the American Association of University Professors released a statement condemning the university's response, stating there was no threat of violence or disruption to classes.

Why this matters: The protest at UT Austin is part of a wave of similar demonstrations at college campuses across the U.S., highlighting the tensions between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups and testing university administrators' handling of the issue and their commitment to free speech. The arrests have also attracted attention from civil rights organizations, who argue that the students have a First Amendment right to freely express their political opinions without threats of arrest and violence.

Similar protests occurred at the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Texas at Dallas, where students occupied the administration building.

Key Takeaways

• Hundreds of UT Austin students protested the Israel-Palestine conflict.
• Over 20 protesters were arrested, mostly on trespassing charges.
• UT Austin warned the protest would violate campus policies.
• Texas governor condemned the protest as "hate-filled antisemitic".
• Similar protests occurred at other UT campuses, sparking free speech concerns.