Shutterstock / Package Leong
A view of the College of Texas Tower in Austin.
Texas progressive teams and a San Antonio U.S. Congressman lashed out at Gov. Greg Abbott Thursday for the arrest of a journalist throughout a pro-Palestinian protest on the College of Texas at Austin the day earlier than.
Texas Division of Public Security officers arrested a cameraman for Fox 7 Austin for felony trespass as authorities pulled protesters from a crowd gathered on the campus’ South Garden, in keeping with the TV station.
Though the protesters have been reportedly peaceable, greater than 57 demonstrators have been arrested. Nonetheless, as of Thursday morning, 46 of these fees have been dropped because of a scarcity of proof, the Texas Tribune studies.
Nonetheless, the arrest of a member of the press prompted withering criticism of Abbott’s determination to order DPS to confront campus protesters.
In a Thursday assertion, the ACLU of Texas referred to as the journalist’s arrest and alleged violence dedicated by the police an affront to democracy and constitutionally assured freedoms.
“When college and state officers assault free speech, they undermine the core of our democracy,” the ACLU Texas’ assertion mentioned. “The First Modification ensures folks in Texas and throughout the nation the suitable to protest, together with those that advocate for Palestinians. Nonetheless, state leaders quickly escalated a deliberate day of peaceable demonstrations by deploying legislation enforcement in riot gear towards college students and the press. Public officers do not get to forcefully suppress the voices of individuals they disagree with.”
The ACLU continued: “As an alternative of attempting to violently censor Texans, state officers have a duty to create areas for college kids, workers, and college to precise their views and interact in peaceable protest.”
Progress Texas echoed the emotions, condemning the state’s “authoritarian response” to the protest.
“Peaceable assemblies have performed a significant function in our democracy, from organized labor to ending the Vietnam Warfare,” Progress Texas’ Hiba Faruqi, who was at UT on Wednesday, mentioned in an announcement. “Abbott’s pointless pressure and the arrest of a member of the free press, with out trigger, is in stark distinction to the timid DPS response on the Rob Elementary mass capturing in Uvalde.”
On Thursday, protesters returned to UT’s campus in mass to proceed calling for a ceasefire within the Israel-Hamas battle. There, they joined U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Democrat whose district stretches from the state capital to San Antonio.
“In 1960, on this place, 1000’s of scholars got here collectively to picket on the drag towards segregation,” Casar instructed the gang of demonstrators. “And our combat for civil rights continues right here at present.”
US Congressman @GregCasar joins the protest, requires ceasefire
“My message to the college is obvious: college students and college are usually not the enemy. College students and college are the college.” pic.twitter.com/eaGCvh2I42
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 25, 2024
Regardless of the criticism, each UT Austin and Abbott proceed to face by their crackdown.
In a Wednesday afternoon tweet, Abbott referred to as for any “college students becoming a member of the hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public faculty or college in Texas” to be expelled.
Arrests being made proper now & will proceed till the gang disperses.
These protesters belong in jail.
Antisemitism is not going to be tolerated in Texas. Interval.
College students becoming a member of in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public faculty or college in Texas ought to be expelled. https://t.co/XhLlQdvUl0
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 24, 2024
In the meantime, UT Austin officers warned Thursday that “coming to campus with out authorization” is prohibited, and that each one protesters should vacate the college’s predominant mall by 10 p.m.
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