Some of the dozens of protesters who were arrested in an anti-Israel demonstration The University of Texas at Austin They were released on Wednesday, despite Texas Governor Greg Abbott saying they should be locked up.
According to the Texas Tribune report, citing a Travis County Sheriff’s spokesperson, 57 people were arrested on campus, while UT Austin said 26 of those arrested were not affiliated with the college.
Abbott, a Republican, previously criticized protesters who clashed with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers in riot gear during chaotic scenes.
Pro-Palestine protesters march at the University of Texas on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. (Jay Jenner/American-Statesman)
“These protesters belong in jail,” Abbott wrote on Twitter. “Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students attending Hate-filled, anti-Semitic protests Should be expelled from any public college or university in Texas.”
A small group formed outside the Travis County Jail Thursday and cheered as some of the suspects were escorted out of the jail. fox 11 austin Report.
Criminal charges were dropped against 46 of those arrested because prosecutors said the charges lacked probable cause, the Texas Tribune reports.
UT Austin said in a statement that there was “significant involvement of outside groups,” pointing to the more than two dozen people arrested, whom the college says are neither students nor employees.
UT Austin said the protest was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee, which seeks to “paralyze the operations of universities across the country.”
“We have seen the presence of this outside group attempt to disrupt and cause disarray within the affiliated national organization,” UT Austin said. “There have been thirteen pro-Palestinian free speech events at the university since October, most of which resulted in no incidents. On the contrary, this one specifically expressed the intention to disrupt the campus and encouraged participants to break institutional rules and violate national Instructed to take over the University as per the pattern.”
Democratic state Representative Gina Hinojosa hit back at Abbott’s claims that the protesters were motivated by anti-Semitism.
In response to Abbott’s comments, Hinojosa wrote on Twitter, “Nice try but it’s not about anti-Semitism.”
“This is about a war that students oppose and it is their right to assemble and protest. These are our children, Governor. Stop trying to lure them into serving your political ambitions. “
Hundreds of students walked out of class Wednesday in an attempt to take over the South Lawn on campus. Like similar protests across the country, protesters are calling on the university to divest Israeli companies linked to the war in Gaza and end the fighting.
State troopers arrest a man at a protest at the University of Texas on April 24, 2024. (Jay Jenner/American-Statesman)
The protests came as the Israel-Hamas war passed the six-month milestone earlier this month, resulting in thousands of civilian Palestinian deaths. Stories of suffering in Gaza have sparked international calls for a ceasefire and protests around the world.
Jay Hartzell, president of the University of Texas at Austin, said he clearly defended his decision to call off the anti-Israel demonstration and said he recognized there were “a lot of emotions surrounding these events.”
“Peaceful protests are acceptable under our rules,” Hartzell said in a lengthy statement Wednesday.
“Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting the ability of others to learn is not allowed. The group leading this protest said it was a violation of institutional rules. Our rules matter, and they are enforced.” Will go. Our university will not be captured.” The President added.
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Texas Governor Greg Abbott said the protesters should be jailed. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters on Thursday tried tent camping In a courtyard at Princeton University, only the university police broke them up and made two arrests. While the protesters removed their tents, students continued their protest by sitting on tarpaulins and blankets at the College of New Jersey.
Police were also called to Emory University in Atlanta. Remove the encroaching outside agitators on the school’s campus, according to Laura Diamond, assistant vice president for University Communications.
The University of Southern California (USC) announced this campus will remain closed “until further notice” after a large anti-Israel protest on Wednesday, which ended with the arrest of 93 people. The school has also canceled its “keynote” due to anti-Israel disruptions.
Fox News Digital’s Chris Pandolfo and Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.
