Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania shut down an anti-Israel encampment this week with the aid of local law enforcement. The tents were set up by the usual suspects of ‘Students for Justice in Palestine’, and the school president alleged that the protest had been noticed by the FBI.
Nine people were arrested, and only two of them were Swarthmore students. Anti-Israel activity has been occurring at Swarthmore for months.
The New York Post reports:
Police arrest 9, break up pro-Palestinian encampment at Swarthmore — as college president cites FBI scrutinyPolice arrested nine protestors, including seven agitators, while breaking up a pro-Palestinian encampment on Swarthmore College’s campus in an ugly scene Saturday — a “terribly difficult” decision the school’s president says was in part prompted by FBI scrutiny.One current and one former student of the private liberal arts school in the suburbs of Philadelphia were arrested, while the seven others were activists who were not affiliated with the college.“The promotion of the protest on social media drew the attention of law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, who urged us to bring the encampment to an end as quickly as possible,” Swarthmore President Valerie Smith said in a statement.Smith said members of a suspended student organization repeatedly invited non-students to join the encampment through Instagram, and unknown individuals began to arrive on campus soon after.“Many, if not all, of the protestors — both students and non-students — were fully masked and tried to remain unidentifiable,” Smith added.
According to this report from the Swarthmore Phoenix, it sounds like the administration is done playing games:
An email from Vice President of Student Affairs Stephanie Ives was printed and distributed to protesters at around 2:15 p.m., informing those at the encampment that their occupation of Trotter Lawn violated the Code of Conduct. The letter cited the code: “Encampments on and occupation of any College facilities, spaces or grounds is prohibited.”…Additionally, she raised the concern over protestors using masks to hide their identities. “This current protest strategy will not result in dialogue with the college about your demands,” she wrote. She also wrote that many students have already been identified…The letter continued, “We have heard your demands and do not intend to meet them.” Ives wrote that the college is considering all options to bring the encampment to a peaceful end while working to issue interim suspensions to those who were warned and remain in the encampment, including students who are just now entering. Further findings could lead to more severe sanctions for students who have already received a sanction for prior misconduct.
This video seems to show the members of the encampment getting a final warning. This was handled well.
Students engaged in pathetic chants while the police dismantled the encampment.
The school handled this the right way. No negotiations over demands and no coddling. Shut it down or everyone will be arrested and students will be suspended. End of story.
Featured image via YouTube.
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