George Washington University's vice president contacted the vice mayor of Washington, D.C., saying school officials had “growing concerns about violence.” counter-Protesters gather at a Hamas support camp on campus.
From emails obtained through the Freedom of Information Act ax, Renee McPhatter, vice president of government and community relations, pointed out several “provocative” incidents to D.C. Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Judge Lindsey Appiah last month.
One of the major incidents involved Hamas supporters vandalizing a statue of George Washington at a school, which had been decorated with Palestinian flags and kefiyas.
McPhatter noted that counter-protesters snatched the flag and “attempted to take it.”[ed] They tried to leave the camp, but were eventually stopped by the police.
McPhatter also wrote that “a group of parents and alumni plan to visit the camp to help restore the statue to its original condition.”hatchet Although this claim could not be verified), she was concerned about “electronic billboard trucks” driving around campus displaying pro-Israel messages.
The messages included: “Heartbreaking evidence of Hamas’ brutal atrocities has emerged,” and “Jewish students are not alone.”
Additionally, pro-Hamas activists were outraged when former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier Rudy Lokman visited their encampment. hatchet Rochman reported that he maintained a “stone face” and barely responded to activists' insults such as “settlers, settlers, go home” and “liberation doesn't look like the fucking IOF soldiers on our campus.”
In the last incident pointed out by McPhatter, (painting), a counter-protester entered the activists' encampment and shouted, “Get off my campus.” As numerous pro-Palestinian activists approached the individual, one shouted, “Have no contact with the Zionists.”
After the pro-Hamas encampment was cleared by police on May 8, DC Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith echoed McPhatter about the presence of counter-protesters, noting that this was behind the decision to dismantle the encampment.
Nonetheless, that very morning, DC police arrested more than 30 pro-Hamas activists on charges including “unlawful entry and assault on a police officer.” Smith also cited reports of “protesters from other schools moving into GW” and (pro-Hamas) activists preparing “offensive and defensive weapons.”
The weekend before the GWU camp was closed, pro-Hamas activists called for university officials to be “guillotined.”
“Bracey, Bracey, we saw you! You’re beating up students too. We’re going to the fucking gallows with you,” one protester shouted, pointing at Provost Christopher Bracey. “Guilty! Guillotine! Guillotine! Guillotine!”
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Image: minusequalsplus/Flickr.com; George Washington University
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