University of Utah faculty are demanding that future student protests “not be met with police violence” after officers in riot gear were ordered to tear into a peaceful rally on campus this week.
In a new letter addressed to U. President Taylor Randall that went online hours before the school’s main graduation ceremony Thursday, the more than 120 faculty who so far have signed on say they “vehemently object” to the “unprovoked and unwarranted” use of force against students and community members during a pro-Palestine rally Monday. They want formal assurance that kind of reaction won’t happen again.
They ask that police officers not be present at any peaceful protests at the U. from now on.
That didn’t take hold immediately, though, as tens of officers surrounded protesters again when they returned to rally outside of graduation later in the evening at the Huntsman Center. And campus police immediately arrested one individual, zip-tying her arms behind her back as she shouted. A school spokesperson said the arrest was for the woman’s involvement in the Monday rally, and she will be screened for failing to disperse, disorderly conduct and trespassing — along with the other 20 organizers who have been arrested.
“Every time you arrest someone, our movement grows,” one student shouted after officers, as families and graduates in gowns walked past.
The woman who was detained is not affiliated with the U. as either a current student or employee, the school spokesperson said.
The students also brought their protest inside the arena during the ceremony, where several shouted “Free Palestine” and a handful of graduates walked out while Randall was speaking.
Randall paused for a moment during his commencement address about resilience to respond to them. “We certainly hear you, and you have a right to express your viewpoint,” he said. “You do not, however, have the right to disrupt this celebration. This is years of hard academic work of your peers. We’ll give you a moment, but if you continue to protest, we’d ask you to leave or you will be removed.”
Many in the audience cheered at his response as the students supporting Palestine left. Some wore traditional Arab keffiyeh scarves in place of graduation stoles.
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