Protests, Passion, and Persistence: The Pro-Palestine Movement at UT Austin
Pro-Palestine student protestors at UT Austin link arms in solidarity as Texas state troopers in full riot gear block Speedway
In recent months, pro-Palestine student protests have surged across college campuses nationwide, reflecting growing concerns over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role universities play in funding said conflict. This year, student-led protests have gained momentum, with significant demonstrations occurring at universities such as Columbia University, The University of Texas at Austin, and UCLA. These protests typically feature marches, sit-ins, and rallies, often organized by student groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and the Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC). The primary demands of these protests include calls for the U.S. government to reconsider its foreign aid to Israel, for universities to divest from companies linked to Israel, and for increased awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. These demonstrations have sparked intense debates, engaged diverse student populations, and prompted administrative responses including disciplinary hearings, suspensions, heavy police presence, and even expulsion.
The University of Texas at Austin: A Hub of Activism
The University of Texas at Austin has been a notable hub for pro-Palestine activism. Over the past few months, the campus has witnessed several protests organized by a coalition of student groups such as the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. These events have attracted hundreds of participants, showcasing the passion and commitment of the student body. One of the most significant protests at UT Austin occurred on April 24th, 2024. Hundreds of students gathered outside Gregory Gym and marched to the Main Mall where they planned to occupy the space, host guest speakers, and conduct a teach-in. However, a peaceful protest soon turned violent as the University of Texas at Austin Police Department (UTPD) and state troopers entered campus to push back protestors. Tensions ran high as students recounted instances of an aggressive police presence with riot gear surrounding their area. Travis County reported 57 arrests made by law enforcement on the UT Campus for failure to comply with university rules such as erecting tents, attempting to establish an encampment, unauthorized use of tables, use of face coverings to conceal identity, and failure to follow city, state, and federal laws (e.g., criminal trespass, disorderly conduct, destruction of government property, assault on public servant, obstructing a roadway). A few days later, a second protest occurred on April 29th where students gathered on the main mall of UT Austin and set up a second encampment. Throughout its duration, the encampment hosted a variety of activities aimed at raising awareness and educating the campus community about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict such as teach-ins, poetry, and empowering speeches. State troopers and UTPD were once again present at the scene, surrounding the encampment and pulling students out of the crowd for arrest. Lazarus Om, a student arrested during the April 29th protest, recounted being arrested for criminal trespassing without warning. "I felt traumatized," Om expressed. "I was not aggressive at all. I felt like I was just kind of grabbed for the sake of numbers, like the numbers of arrests." Om’s charges were later dropped as there were no grounds for a criminal trespassing charge. He shared his frustrations stating, "I go to school at UT. I never got a warning. There's nothing there for a cop to even think that I was criminally trespassing. And I feel like my constitutional rights have been violated by UTPD due to simply peacefully protesting on my campus where I live." Many students arrested during the protests share Om’s frustrations with facing unnecessary police presence and being wrongfully arrested. The Austin American-Statesman reported all 57 arrests made during the April 24th protest were dropped due to lack of probable cause while many more arrests made during the April 29th protest were also dropped for similar reasons.
On that same day, student Nathali Abella-Hernandez recounted witnessing police violence against peaceful student protestors gathered near Sutton Hall. Abella-Hernandez recalls facing a line of police in full riot gear as they blocked students off with bikes. "I was in the front row when a student beside me holding an umbrella blocking off the pepper spray was pulled by one of the police officers. They grabbed his umbrella and began literally pulling it until the wires were all twisted. When the officer finally got a hold of his shirt to pull him towards them all the students in the front row began to lock arms and get the student behind us away from the officer who was trying to arrest him," added Abella-Hernandez.
Administrative Response
In an official statement, the university affirmed, “The University strongly supports the free speech and assembly rights of our community, and we want students and others on campus to know that protests on campus are fully permissible, provided that they do not violate Institutional Rules or threaten the safety of our campus community.” Despite these assurances, many students have expressed dissatisfaction with President Jay Hartzell’s and the university’s handling of the protests by implementing a heavy police presence. They argue that the administration's actions, including the deployment of police in riot gear, have often escalated tensions rather than diffusing them. "I feel beyond disappointed and fearful. I came to this university with the idea of self-expression and the ability to find and embrace my voice of activism. Instead, I was welcomed into UT with my freedom of speech and peaceful protest becoming punishable and expellable," expressed Abella-Hernandez.
Pro-Palestine Protestors gathered at the Texas State Capitol urging lawmakers to vote against funding Israel and end the occupation of Palestine.
Impact and Future of the Protests
The pro-Palestine protests at UT Austin have had a profound impact on the university community. They have fostered a sense of solidarity among students and brought greater awareness to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The protests have also highlighted the challenges of balancing free speech and campus safety, prompting ongoing debates about the role of universities in political activism. Despite the challenges and backlash, student activists like Nathali and Lazarus remain committed to their cause. "I hope to see our goals being fulfilled. And when Palestine is free, I hope to see the movement continue to grow so that future generations will be able to talk about Palestine and live up to 'never again means never again for anyone,'" stated Abella-Hernandez. As these young activists continue to push for justice, they are also setting a powerful example for future generations. Their commitment and passion are a testament to the potential of this generation to drive meaningful change. As the movement continues, it serves as a powerful reminder of the impact and importance of student voices in shaping the future.
