Six University of Georgia students arrested during an April 29 protest of Israel’s response to the October 7th terror attack by Hamas terrorists remain suspended through the fall semester, the university’s Office of Student Conduct announced the other day.
With fall classes beginning at the University System of Georgia’s flagship institution, a clear message was sent from a three-member panel comprising of two students and one faculty member: The six lawbreakers, who trespassed and tried to set up an encampment, will also remain on probation for the remainder of their academic careers at the university.
“The University will continue to enforce our policies to protect the free expression rights of all members of our community while recognizing that such activities must comply with applicable laws and policies,” university spokesperson Greg Trevor said in a statement.
Campus police arrested 16 protesters who were setting up an encampment near UGA President Jere Morehead’s north campus office. Some of the 16, who openly espoused left-wing or anti-Israel causes, informally resolved charges with the school by acknowledging their violations.
The demonstrators were angry with Israel’s actions in the Israel-Hamas war and what they claim is the university’s support for the Jewish state. University representatives said that the encampments put students and professors in danger, and that students were warned to disperse.
In reinforcing the message that none of the University System’s 26 colleges and universities would tolerate illegal encampments and building blockades or seizures, USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue recently told James magazine that “President Jere Morehead had administrators pleading with the students to limit their First Amendment rights to lawful protest. When they didn’t, they were arrested and suspended.” He went on to say that “students fear suspension, and that’s what we empowered our presidents to do.”
