Vanderbilt University President Daniel Diermeyer said Thursday that while pro- and anti-Israel protests on campus and across the country are protected free speech, violent acts at these gatherings are not and cannot be punished by school officials. said it should be done.
“So this has nothing to do with free speech,” Diermeyer told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” co-host Mika Brzezinski about the ongoing protests on college campuses across the country. When asked for his opinion on the violence that has characterized some pro-Palestinian rallies, he said:
Although loud anti-Israel agitators at Columbia University and New York University have grabbed most of the headlines, Mr. Diermeier’s school has experienced disorderly anti-Israel rallies in recent months, including one protest. Participants entered the building and assaulted school staff.
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Vanderbilt University President Daniel Diermeyer told MSNBC hosts Thursday that violence at anti-Israel rallies on campus is not protected speech and will have consequences. (Screenshot/MSNBC)
Vanderbilt University students protested the government’s removal of the anti-Israel, boycott, divestment, and sanctions initiative from the student vote in late March, with some students marching into buildings closed for construction. He forcibly entered and assaulted a social services worker who stopped him from trespassing.
After the rally, several students were arrested and suspended from school.
Diermeyer recently wrote: wall street journal As for how the school believes both sides have the right to “respectfully” protest on this issue, Brzezinski said the March incident crossed a red line and there are serious consequences for the students who violated the issue. He said it was necessary to give.
Before condemning the violent protests, he said there had been “literally dozens of protests and debates and vigils” at Vanderbilt since the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel, and that there had been “literally dozens of protests and debates and vigils” and “Israeli hostages.” He pointed out that there were “an exhibition of children’s families” and “an exhibition of murdered family members.” In Gaza” no problem.
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“All of the students were amazing,” Diermeyer said, noting that a Passover meal was held on campus and more than 400 students attended.
“However, as you just said, there was a small group of students who broke into the administration building, which was closed for construction, and we took appropriate measures,” he added.
“Students have the freedom to express themselves and protest, but that doesn’t mean they can run into a closed building and injure security guards,” Diermeyer continued. “As a result, we took appropriate action. As you said, the students received student discipline.”
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The Chancellor concluded that these students did not have the right to engage in such conduct.
“So this has nothing to do with free speech,” Diermeyer said. “This is just a violation, a blatant violation of university rules. There are consequences when you violate the rules.”
