University of Minnesota took over the administration building yesterday.
The protest didn’t last long. The police charged in and have arrested 11 students and alumni. It’s the principle, though: they were protesting the university’s investment in Israel and our country’s bomb-making industries. It’s not as if the Democrats are working for peace, and you know the Republicans love them some civilian casualties, so it’s good that someone is raising a ruckus and declaring that genocide is not a good business decision.
One of the organizers, Juliet Murphy, had a few words for the administration.
“And I think we’re kind of calling it out at this point and saying, ‘You have always taught us that we should stand up for what we believe in, we should be the motivators for change, but yet, when it no longer benefits you, it doesn’t seem like you really want to continue having those conversations. It doesn’t seem like you really care about listening to your diverse student body,’” Murphy said.
The administration had a counter: you will be silent, you will be orderly, or you shall be ejected from the campus.
The University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents voted in August to reject student calls for divestment from Israel — and to block most future student divestment campaigns.
The university also rolled out guidelines this summer stating demonstrations must be limited to 100 people and end by 10 p.m., and that they cannot use tents nor remain in buildings after scheduled closing hours, among other rules. Violation can result in immediate interim suspension, arrest and being barred from campus.
The smug, comfortable assholes on the Board of Regents really don’t get it: the whole point of a protest is to make the other side uncomfortable. Rejecting disagreement from a position of power does not resolve the point of contention, but only makes the opposition angrier and more determined.
Free Palestine. End the genocide. Divest now. Those are simple, clear ideas that won’t be answered by arresting people.
somehow i thought protests would be treated differently here in minnesota.
i was wrong.
i am disappointed with the regents.
The vast majority of regents/board members/etc got their positions because they are connected to money and power. Doesn’t matter where in the world or whether it is a private or public institution. They are used to being comfortable, having safe spaces for themselves, and generally do not act for interests outside of their own little worlds. The obscene reactions to student protests for the last few years have driven this home.
Reports say the arrested students had barricaded and locked themselves in Morrill Hall along with employees still working there are were trapped. Seems like that might be some relevant information to include. (Not a justification of the regents response last summer)
The Regents of the University of California as well have a history of doing the same thing, over and over and over again. In fact, I remember them doing the same in the 1970s and 1980s, when students (and staff and faculty) were trying to get them to divest from apartheid South Africa. They (the Regents) were part of the economic and political system that kept apartheid going then, and of course is doing the same today.. And, oh yeah, does anybody remember what they did during Occupy? The message here is “shut up, sit down, and keep the system going, little drones. If you don’t, you’re on our hit list.” The real story today is that you’re supposed to watch an open genocide every day and just sit back. Ever wondered what you’d have done during an earlier genocide? You’re doing exactly that, right now.