Schools
Tufts University suspended a pro-Palestinian student group last week after it used images of weapons to advertise a protest rally and called on members of the Tufts community to “join the student intifada.”
According to a university spokesperson and a social network, Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine was placed on interim suspension on October 2nd post from the group itself.
The Tufts spokesman said the group violated several university policies. They quoted an Instagram post The film released by Tufts SJP on September 30, which showed individuals with assault rifles, urged its followers to affix a “student.” Intifadaand that they’re “escalating for Gaza.”
The post was created to advertise a series of demonstrations planned for this week, which the group described as “Week of anger“, marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks and the start of the current war.
“This comes as Israel [sic] “Continues to rain bombs on Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Iran,” the group wrote in a web-based post petition for his reinstatement. “Suspension of Büschel SJP [sic] is an attempt to silence all student voices that educate and agitate against genocide. It is perfectly legitimate to protest against research relationships, investments and any ongoing support for genocide. A movement cannot be suspended.”
The Tufts spokesman said Tufts SJP also violated university policies on Sept. 12 when members marched through an instructional constructing, posted signs and blocked the doorway to a different constructing. The group was already facing prosecution for conduct referring to this incident.
Additionally, the spokesperson said Tufts SJP “failed to meet the requirements of previous disciplinary actions related to demonstrations the group led last spring.” The group has already been “put on hold,” meaning a few of its privileges have been suspended.
“The suspension will remain in effect until the case is fully resolved. During this time, SJP must cease all activities, events and meetings. Any attempt to continue operations during this suspension will result in serious disciplinary consequences for both the organization and its leaders,” the Tufts spokesperson said in a press release.
Student protesters appeared to disregard those threats Monday. October 7 marks the anniversary of Hamas' attack on Israel, wherein roughly 1,200 people were killed and greater than 200 were taken hostage.
Instagram posts showed protesters marching through campus, sitting in a School of Engineering constructing, carrying an indication that read “Tufts Investment Office Funding Genocide” and hanging a Palestinian flag inside.
Last 12 months, protesters at Tufts arrange a “Gaza solidarity camp“, reflecting the tactics students at Columbia University and elsewhere are using to draw attention to Israel destruction much of the Gaza Strip and the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population. According to the Israeli military, around 42,000 Palestinians were killed in the Gaza Strip, including 17,000 children United Nations.
Prior to the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, Tufts administrators served sketched Rules for protests on campus.
“At the beginning of this academic year, Tufts University emphasized its expectations for student protests and advocacy. We have provided clear guidelines to ensure a disruption-free learning environment while supporting students’ interests in speech and demonstration,” the spokesperson said in a press release. “As stated in our August 22 message: ‘Advocacy and protest must not disrupt university operations, engage in verbal abuse or discrimination, or intimidate or harass others.'”
The Anti-Defamation League of New England praised Tufts for suspending the group.
As Israel invades Lebanon and take into consideration do it take revenge against Iran, protests against the country's military actions, its general treatment of Palestinians and U.S. support for Israel's military also proceed outside college campuses in Massachusetts. On Sunday, hundreds of individuals took to Storrow Drive to dam traffic and demand an end to the continuing violence.
image credit : www.boston.com