Harvard Student Who Glitter-Bombed School President Faces Felony Charges
“charged with assault and battery on a person over the age of 60 and two counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,200”
We covered this story when it happened. This student should be charged with a felony. Glitter is actually kind of dangerous.
Inside Higher Ed reports:
Felony Charges for Glitter Bombing Harvard President
Animal rights activist Brittany Drake, who dumped glitter on Harvard University president Alan Garber at an alumni day event in May to protest Harvard research practices, appeared last week in court, where she faces three felony charges for the incident, The Boston Globe reported.
Drake, who pleaded not guilty during her initial arraignment in June, is charged with assault and battery on a person over the age of 60 and two counts of malicious destruction of property over $1,200, according to the newspaper. Drake was also charged with three misdemeanors for the May 31 alumni day incident: disturbing a public assembly, trespassing and disturbing the peace.
Video of the incident shows Drake approaching Garber as he begins to speak, then dumping a container of glitter on Garber while saying, “For the baby monkeys” and “For the animals in the labs.” The camera briefly cuts away to the crowd as Garber says, “That’s fine, I can use a little glitter.” Covered in gold sparkles, he can soon be seen saying, “I hope that Harvard will always continue to be a place where speech, free speech, continues to thrive.”
Garber, then serving as interim, officially became Harvard’s 31st president last week.
Drake, a supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, was protesting experiments on primates conducted by Martha Livingstone, Takeda Professor of Neurobiology, according to PETA. Harvard has previously accused PETA of publishing misleading information about Livingstone’s lab.
DONATE
Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.
Comments
Harass, assault, and pummel Jewish students all over the property, no problem. But toss some glitter on the president — or put your feet up on Nancy Pelosi’s desk — and it’s “off with your head, crazy white chick.”
No clinical trials on animals? Go straight to testing new drugs on humans?
Yes, Like Pfizer.
Student activists.
About time someone lent some sparkle to Harvard.
Glitter is kind of dangerous? No it’s not.
This used to be called free speech and it would result in a stern talking-to. We’ve lost all proportion. We no longer have any agreement about what civilized behavior is in our country.
And I think the animal rights people are ridiculous. But a felony? There are plenty of real felonies, this isn’t one.
No, contact or battery is not free speech.
I agree with you that it should not be classified as a felony but nowadays everything is a felony.
Glitter in the nose or lungs can cause serious injuries to the eyes, lungs or other organs. Sounds like a felony to me.
As can a sneeze.
Great comparison. You sure convinced me. And being hit in the head by a baseball during a game, or even slipping on the stairs, can have the same effect as being hit on the head with a baseball bat, so I guess the latter shouldn’t be a felony either.
‘ Another case occurred when a college student glitter bombed a fellow student in a dormitory. The incident occurred after classes and resulted in damage to the students eyes and mucus membranes. A lawsuit also resulted from this incident.
*** Yes, the glitter seems innocuous, but it can enter the eyes or nose, cause damage to the cornea, injure soft tissues, irritate eyes and nose or lead to infection. ‘
https://jpricemcnamara.com/innocent-glitter-bombing-could-be-a-crime/