Multiple arrests were made Tuesday after Vanderbilt University students protested the university’s decision to remove an anti-Israel boycott, divestment, and sanctions initiative from the student ballot.
The proposed amendment to the Vanderbilt Student Government Constitution would have prevented student government funds from going to businesses that support Israel. Vanderbilt University removed the amendment from the student ballot, prompting about 30 protesters to have a sit-in in the chancellor’s office.
According to a statement obtained by the Tennessean, Vanderbilt University officials said the “student-led effort to pass a resolution proposing Vanderbilt Student Government adopt boycott, divestment and sanctions tactics did not move forward because of potential conflict with federal and state laws.”
The proposed amendment, signed by more than 600 students, followed the guidelines from the national BDS movement to prohibit spending funds on companies that are “complicit” with Israel.
The sit-in protest in the chancellor’s office lasted nearly 24 hours, resulting in four student arrests and multiple suspensions.
“All students remaining inside Kirkland Hall, the university’s main administration building, left voluntarily around 6 a.m. today after forcibly entering the building [see video] shortly after 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. All of the protest participants who breached the building will be placed on interim suspension,” Vanderbilt University said in a statement to the Washington Examiner.
“The Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Magistrate’s Office has charged three students with Class A misdemeanor assault after pushing a Community Service Officer and a staff member who offered to meet with them as they entered Kirkland Hall on Tuesday. A fourth student has been charged with vandalism after breaking a window on the building’s exterior last evening,” the statement continued.
A reporter was also arrested after attempting to enter Kirkland Hall. Nashville District Attorney Glenn Funk said he will not prosecute the journalist for “peacefully doing his or her job.”
According to the University statement, “Free expression is a core value,” and allows for peaceful protest, but Vanderbilt has the authority to “define time, place and manner limitations.”
“Yesterday’s protest at Kirkland Hall was not a peaceful one. It began with the assault of a Vanderbilt community service officer and continued with protesters physically pushing Vanderbilt staff members with the hope of entering and occupying the chancellor’s office,” the statement said. “As a result, the building remained on lockdown and members of VUPD were on high alert.”
In some videos, protesters asked a black police officer why he was not joining them in the protest.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“You are black in America, and you’re not standing with the marginalized people of the world. What does that make you?” the protesters asked.
Another student outside of the chancellor’s office called 911 on behalf of another protester inside Kirkland Hall out of fear she would develop toxic shock syndrome from not being allowed to remove her tampon in a timely manner. She expressed worry that police would arrest the protester for leaving the sit-in. The 911 dispatcher continued to ask, “Do you have an emergency?”
