LONDON, Thursday, April 25, 2024 (WAFA) – Amnesty International (AI) today condemned the crackdown of the administrations of US universities on student protests in support of Gaza.
Amnesty International USA said in a press statement that it “urges university administrations across the United States of America to safeguard and facilitate all students’ right to peacefully and safely protest or counter-protest on their campuses.”
AI said that protests in support of Palestinian rights in and around college campuses have been met with obstructive and repressive responses by university administrations. Instead of facilitating and protecting their students’ right to protest, universities’ administrations have gone to great lengths to quash it, even involving local authorities and demanding arrests, while suspending students who engage in peaceful demonstrations.
“Institutions of higher learning are key in helping students understand and claim their human rights. Any steps taken to silence, harass, threaten, or otherwise intimidate those who gather peacefully to protest and speak out is a violation of their rights,” said Paul O’Brien, Executive Director of Amnesty International USA. “Becoming a student does not mean leaving the right to protest at the university gates.”
Academic freedom is central to the right to education under international law, according to Amnesty International. It stressed that administrations have a responsibility to foster an atmosphere that allows diverse viewpoints, but also to ensure that all students are able to engage in such discussions. Campus activism is a crucial component of that freedom and discussion.
It also stressed that schools and universities should ensure that all students can safely express their views and beliefs and ensure protection of their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. “Due to the real and known risks of police violence that students could face, administrations should summon law enforcement to disperse campus demonstrations only as a last resort, such as in the face of widespread violence or incitement to violence and discrimination,” it said.
“The right to protest is critical to freely speak out against what is happening right now in Gaza,” continued O’Brien. “This is especially true as the U.S. government continues to provide weapons to the Israeli military and is increasingly complicit in the atrocities being committed against Palestinians every single day.”
AI pointed out that while criticism of the actions or policies of the Israeli government is not in and of itself antisemitic and should not be used as a pretext to shut down dissent, there are videos circulating of individuals around some campus protests spewing hateful and harmful rhetoric.
“To be clear, discrimination and promoting violence against Jewish communities are human rights violations,” continued O’Brien. “We at Amnesty International USA condemn hateful rhetoric and violence in the strongest possible terms.”
AI added that throughout history, protests have enabled individuals and groups to express dissent, opinions and ideas, expose injustice and abuse, and demand accountability from those in power. With collective mobilization, creativity and defiance, people who protest are a thorn in the side of those who abuse their power. Helping to shake up rigid and unaccountable power dynamics and structures, protesting has been a vehicle for advancing human rights.
“As the humanitarian disaster in Gaza grows more horrifying each day, and more lives are lost, with U.S. support, it’s no wonder so many students are moved to protest,” said O’Brien.
He called on US President Biden to “immediately suspend all arms transfers to the government of Israel and to work for an immediate and permanent ceasefire to protect civilians, ensure unimpeded humanitarian aid access, and facilitate the safe release of hostages.”
K.F.
