Suppression, suspension and expulsion; The confrontation of the claimant of democracy with the student movement

Mehr News, International Group: More than three weeks of American universities protesting the regime’s genocide The Zionists in the Gaza Strip are witnessing the protests that were seen from the eyes of the observers, such as in the 1960s and the protests of the universities of this country against the Vietnam War.

These protests against the Zionist genocide in more than 50 American universities went as far as some other western countries of Australia (Universities of Melbourne and Sydney), Canada ( McGill and Concordia Universities), France (Paris Institute of Political Studies and Sorbonne University), Italy (Sapienza University), England (Leeds University, London College and Warwick University), etc.

The extent of this movement shows the anger of American and European students about the extent of the crimes against humanity committed by the Zionist regime and the American-European supporters of this regime. But America’s violent treatment of university students and professors as a claimant of democracy and human rights has been at the top of the world media’s attention.

The arrest of more than 2 thousand students and 50 university professors

CNN American news network reported a few days ago that based on this network’s investigation of police records, court cases and various news reports, at least 50 professors They have been arrested in the protests of universities all over the country. Also, since April 18, more than 2,400 students have been arrested amid protests in more than 50 universities.

CNN mentions a few examples of why university professors are arrested and says: With the suppression of demonstrations by supporters of Palestine by the police in universities across the United States in recent weeks, in Among those arrested were two 65-year-old professors, Annelies Orlek and Steve Tamari, who only filmed with mobile phones.

As ​​this American TV channel and other world media announce, these protests were held peacefully and were met with police brutality.

According to CNN, while the American police force suppresses and arrests the students protesting the war in Gaza on the charge of disturbing the public order and vandalism, the results A survey by an independent and non-profit center shows that approximately 97% of pro-Palestinian student protests in America have been peaceful.

In this regard, the English newspaper “Guardian” reported statistics from the organization “Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project” (Acled), which is an independent non-profit organization. and deals with monitoring violence and political protests in the world, published and wrote: Evaluation and analysis of 553 cases of student protests across America in solidarity with the Palestinians between April 18 (April 29) and May 3 (May 14). It shows that 97% of them did not cause any serious damage.

Repression and beating; The first reaction of the police to the protestors

Looking at the history of the behavior of the American police in dealing with various protests, one can realize the fact that the security forces of this country resort to violent tools and methods from the very beginning. ; A theme that has been constant from the Vietnam student movement in the 60s to the Wall Street movement, protests against racial discrimination, and now the pro-Palestinian student movement.

The “Intercept” website on Dushanbe (May 18) and quoted 2 faculty members of “Barnard” College of Columbia University, wrote: Students who died during the repression Student protests at New York City universities were arrested by police officers, they were deprived of food and water for 16 hours.

According to this American news website, some other students reported that after being arrested, they were beaten by police officers and were taken to the hospital due to the severity of their injuries. .

CNN news network in a report refers to police brutality at the University of Texas in Austin, USA, and states that police with anti-riot equipment and riding horses to disperse Demonstrators moved. Then at Emory University in Atlanta, law enforcement used pepper spray to suppress the pro-Palestinian movement.

Time magazine also wrote that at Austin University, the police used violent tactics to disperse the protesters. 19-year-old Charlotte Kane, who recorded these moments, told TIME that “adrenaline was very high at that time. Everyone was trying to survive and the police were very violent.”

Cain was devastated to see his fellow student being held by the neck by state police. According to him, it was difficult to watch his fellow students scream while the police force sprayed them with pepper spray, but he knew that as a photographer, it was his duty to document how the protesters were treated; Other students rushed to help the victim to relieve the burning caused by the pepper spray.

The continuation of the student movement under the shadow of “suspension”, “conditional” and “expulsion”

According to the “Associated Press” report, hundreds of students in America are arrested, suspended, suspended and in some cases expelled from their universities for participating in anti-Zionist demonstrations, and many are still waiting. hearing the consequences of their presence in the protests.

On the other hand, the American CNN news network also brought in this context: While the latest arrests have attracted a lot of attention, US colleges are not aware of law enforcement. – together with academic suspension and expulsion – are used to reduce the intensity of student demonstrations.

CNN news network pointed out some examples and examples of student expulsions and mentioned that after the 21-hour sit-in, more than 21 students affiliated with the Vanderbilt Divest Coalition In an administrative office, 19-year-old Jack Petoks and others were expelled from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Petkos told CNN that the sit-in ended with him and others arrested, but they were denied food, water, bathrooms and medical care. All those who participated were suspended and expelled from campus. They were denied access to dormitories and dining halls. At least two other people were expelled, one person was suspended and more than 20 students were suspended.

Other schools that have reportedly suspended students in response to the protests include Barnard College in New York, Harvard University near Boston, and “Pomona” etc.

“Cancellation of student visas” is another pressure that America uses to silence the voices of protesters. American National Radio (NPR) conducted an interview with Tal, a British PhD student, who is a victim of this policy and added that he is now at risk of losing his international student visa.

Conclusion

Despite repression, arrest, prison, suspension, probation, expulsion and cancellation of foreign students’ visas, but the student movement in America and Europe against the Zionist regime’s genocide in the Gaza Strip with Power continues.

While the American police forces are suppressing and arresting students protesting the war against Gaza on the charge of disrupting public order and destruction, the number of arrested students is 2,400. And the number of university professors has reached 50. The results of a survey by an independent and non-profit center show that approximately 97% of the protests of pro-Palestinian students in America were peaceful.

In this regard, in an open letter signed by more than 100 faculty members of American universities, such as “Daniel Diermeier”, president of Vanderbilt University, and other university professors, it is stated that The government’s response to student activities by suspending and expelling protesters is contrary to freedom of expression in a democratic society.

“John Joseph Mearsheimer”, a prominent professor of international relations and the founder of the theory of aggressive realism, also criticized the lack of freedom of speech in America a few days ago and by examining the root of this violence, he emphasized: It is difficult to find anyone who criticizes Israel in the American mainstream media. If you are an academic and you want to seriously criticize Israel or the US-Israel relationship, you have to pay a heavy price. The lobbies put a lot of pressure on university managers. There is also a lot of pressure on the White House and Congress to suppress protests in universities.