Rights Groups Slam ‘Heavy-Handed’ Crackdown on Pro-Palestine Campus Protests!

On Thursday, three prominent human rights organizations issued a joint statement addressing the aggressive measures taken by U.S. colleges and universities against pro-Palestine protests on campuses. They urged leaders of higher education institutions to uphold “the right to protest under the First Amendment and other international human rights laws,” highlighting concerns over possibly illegal force applications.

“The obligation of universities to safeguard both the physical well-being and the freedom of speech of students is paramount,” stated Jamil Dakwar, the director of the ACLU’s Human Rights Program. “It is alarming to witness institutions placing students at risk of police brutality for simply voicing their political views peacefully. We implore educational institutions to adopt methods of restraint and de-escalation to uphold the principles of free speech and dissent on their campuses.”

The ACLU, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch (HRW) expressed in their open letter that they are investigating “severe and disproportionate responses by certain university and college administrators and police to campus demonstrations supporting Palestinian rights. In numerous instances, peaceful protests have been met with force by campus security or local police forces called in by university authorities.”

“Universities bear the responsibility to protect academic freedom and the rights to free speech and peaceful protest, and we will monitor their compliance.”

Amidst an International Court of Justice trial accusing Israel of genocide in its ongoing offensive in the Gaza Strip, initiated after the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, U.S. campuses have seen increased demonstrations. These protests have come in response to the extensive support from the U.S. Congress and the Biden administration, which includes billions in weaponry and blocking United Nations ceasefire resolutions, prompting students and faculty to demand divestment from the conflict by their institutions.

Over the last year, and particularly last spring, student protests have intensified. Demonstrators from institutions like Columbia University in New York to the University of Texas at Austin experienced police violence. Simultaneously, the Biden administration and lawmakers from both parties have denounced the protests as antisemitic, despite the leadership of many Jewish students in these actions. New York University started this academic term with a controversial policy that equates anti-Zionism with antisemitism, following a crackdown on anti-genocide demonstrations this spring.

The rights groups shared their “grave concerns regarding the violent outcomes when university officials resort to police intervention to suppress protests, affecting the freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly. Reports indicate that student protestors frequently encountered police in riot gear who resorted to physical force, including batons, kinetic impact projectiles like rubber bullets and foam-tipped rounds, and chemical irritants such as pepper spray and, in some cases, tear gas.”

“Media outlets have documented witness reports of injuries including bleeding puncture wounds, head trauma, broken teeth, and potential broken bones, notably at the University of California Los Angeles, Columbia University, and the City College of New York,” highlighted the coalition.

The groups noted that “the criticism of calling law enforcement to disperse protests has been widespread, including from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations high commissioner for human rights, and several U.N. human rights experts, including the U.N. special rapporteur on the right to education.”

“While private universities aren’t held to the same legal standards as public ones, all educational institutions are expected to respect human rights,” they explained. “Even though they are not bound by the First Amendment, private universities are committed to upholding freedom of expression and academic freedom through their own policies.”

Tanya Greene, director of the U.S. program at HRW, emphasized that “universities should avoid resorting to police actions that suppress free speech and increase the risk of injuries, and instead, should safeguard student speech from violence and intimidation, ensuring that peaceful expression is maintained without disruption.”

Justin Mazzola, a researcher at Amnesty International USA, remarked, “The data we have collected on the excessive use of force against student protesters is deeply troubling, and our investigation is only beginning.”

“As the Israeli military continues its assault on Gaza and with the ongoing risk of U.S. complicity through arms shipments, campus protests advocating for an end to the violence are likely to persist,” Mazzola continued. “It is imperative that universities uphold their duty to protect academic freedom and the rights to free speech and peaceful protest, and we will remain vigilant.”

Following a federal judge in Austin’s ruling on Monday, which allows pro-Palestinian student groups to sue several Texas universities’ presidents and board members for alleged discrimination and First Amendment violations, the rights groups’ letter and comments take on new significance.

“This court decision is a significant victory for anti-genocide protesters nationwide,” stated the Council for Islamic American Relations (CAIR), representing the plaintiffs in Texas.

“The ruling affirms what we have long known,” added Gadeir Abbas, a national deputy litigation director at CAIR. “The government cannot create special protections to shield Israel from criticism under the guise of combatting antisemitism without facing constitutional challenges.”