Anti-Israel activists at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., are calling on administrators not to call the police to remove a camp that has been left on campus for 13 days.
Protesters at GWU’s U-yard erected tents at the campsite and raised Palestinian flags. They also defaced a statue of former President George Washington, for whom the campus is named, with Palestinian iconography and pasted a “Free Palestine” sticker on the statue.
The raucous crowd is demanding that the university divest all companies doing business with Israel and that all university investment information be made available to students. And now they don’t want the university to ask the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, D.C., to investigate. encampment.
“We are very disciplined and organized. We have instructed all participants not to engage with the instigators and not to engage with the police,” said student organizer Reem Lababdi. he told 7News. “We have peaceful research, we have political education, we have religious services. There is no reason for the police to get involved.”
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On May 3, 2024, an image of President Joe Biden with the words “Massacre Joe” written on an American flag appears in Lisner Hall at GWU School of Law during an encampment in University Yard at George Washington University in Washington, DC. Projected. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
The anti-Israel camp has vowed not to disband until its demands are met.
“They made it abundantly clear that I would not be expelled unless the school met 100% of their demands,” Skyler Sheratsky, a senior at George Washington University, told Fox News.
Sieradzki said he and the women took part in a counter-protest where they stood silently and held Israeli flags. Her anti-Israel protesters reportedly harassed her and spat on her in response to the demonstration.
University President Ellen Grunberg said over the weekend that the ongoing encampment is illegal.
GWU’s George Washington statue was defaced with Palestinian flags, keffiyeh and stickers at the Gaza Solidarity encampment for the 13th day. (Alison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
“I fully support and encourage the community to speak out and engage in controversial and critical dialogue on these important issues, as long as it occurs within university policy and district law. ” she said in a letter shared online. “However, what is currently happening at GW is not peaceful protest protected by the First Amendment or university policy.”
She added: “Like many demonstrations across the country, this demonstration has grown into what can only be classified as an illegal and potentially dangerous occupation of GW property.”
Grunberg said the university has requested assistance from police to provide security assistance on and around campus.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser continues to deny GWU’s request to clear the camp, citing students’ right to peaceful protest. (Alison Bailey/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
Last week, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee invited Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to testify before Congress. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Last week, House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) held a full committee hearing titled “Oversight of Washington, D.C.’s Response to Illegal Activity and Anti-Semitism.” He announced that he would hold a meeting and investigate the responses of university and city leaders. At the anti-Israel demonstration.
The commission invited Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith to discuss the “ongoing extremist, anti-Semitic, and illegal activities occurring on George Washington University and surrounding public lands.” They asked for testimony on how they responded to the protests.
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Chairman Comer said, “The House Oversight Committee is requesting George Washington University’s cooperation with the Washington DC Metropolitan Police Department in removing extremist, anti-Semitic, and unlawful protesters occupying the campus and surrounding public lands.” “We are deeply concerned about reports that the government has refused,” he added. “MPD’s refusal to assist GWU in protecting the Jewish student body is disturbing and unacceptable.”
The public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, and will be held in the Rayburn House Office Building 2154 at 1 p.m.
