Friday, April 26
The faculty senate for the Emory College of Arts and Sciences has called for a no-confidence vote for President Gregory L. Fenves following Thursday’s protests on campus.
According to the AJC, the vote will be cast online and could start as soon as this weekend.
The no-confidence resolution also called the protests a “peaceful demonstration” and said Emory and law enforcement caused disruption that “violated multiple college and university policies and is an affront to everything Emory stands for.”
Emory history professor Clifton Crais said the conditions of Thursday’s protest did not merit summoning the police and also violated the university’s freedom of expression policy.
Fenves said he was “horrified” that students and faculty were arrested during Thursday’s Pro-Palestine/Stop Cop City protests on campus, but said “vandalism, violence, or any attempt to disrupt our campus through the construction of encampments” would not be tolerated.
Fenves said in a letter that “highly organized, outside protesters” were to blame for the protests, despite the fact 20 of the 28 arrested were identified as members of the Emory community.
According to the AJC, all of those arrested at the protests and booked into the DeKalb County Jail have been granted bond and were being released as of late Friday afternoon.
On Friday night, hundreds of protesters once again gathered on the quad and briefly occupied the dining area at Cox Hall, but the rally remained peaceful. At midnight, campus police ushered a handful of protesters off the quad without incident.
Thursday, April 25
Pro-Palestinian protesters and opponents of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center clashed with law enforcement on the campus of Emory University this morning with 28 arrests being made.
A small counter-protest by the Jewish community took place at Emory Village this evening.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Free Palestine supporters gathered again on the Emory quad Thursday night and had a brief standoff with Atlanta Police and Georgia State Patrol officers outside the Candler School of Theology building.
There were social media reports that pepper balls were used by law enforcement to disperse the crowd, while some protesters attempted to reassemble the encampment that had been removed after this morning’s protest. It was unclear if any additional arrests were made.
The Emory Wheel reported this evening that law enforcement arrested 28 individuals, including 20 Emory University community members, during this morning’s pro-Palestine encampment on the quadrangle.
“We are working with responding agencies to expedite the release of any Emory community members who remain in custody,” Emory Vice President for Public Safety Cheryl Elliott wrote in a university-wide email. “Our primary goal today was clearing the Quad of a disruptive encampment while holding individuals accountable to the law.”
Stop Copy City and Free Palestine protesters set up tents on the quad at Emory University early Thursday morning demanding the school divest from Israel. The encampment is similar to other protests occurring across the country at colleges and universities, most notably at Columbia in New York City.
By 10 a.m., the Atlanta Police Department was making arrests, and Emory Police was shutting off access to areas of the campus. Georgia State Patrol officers were also on the scene.
The Emory Wheel reported that police were using tear gas and tasers for crowd control. Jewish Studies classes were moved to virtual meetings, a student confirmed.
“APD, KKK, IDF, you’re all the same!” one woman shouted into a megaphone. When her voice became too hoarse, a man took over with cries of “From the river to the sea, Palestine shall be free” and other anti-Israel slogans.
Atlanta Police officers were arresting protesters and others who refused to follow their directions. At around 11 a.m., a woman on a bike refused to move so that an APD vehicle could get through. Another woman screamed as officers arrested her and carried her to the side, then put her into a police van.
An APD statement says chemical irritants were used, but not rubber bullets as some sources alleged.
“At Emory’s request, law enforcement began assisting Emory PD in securing the campus. When this happened, law enforcement officers were met with violence. We are aware APD officers used chemical irritants during the incident. However, APD did not deploy rubber bullets. We urge everyone to stay safe and exercise peaceful means of free speech. The Emory Police Department is the lead agency, please direct any further questions to them,” the APD statement said.
Dist. 42 State Sen. Elena Parent, whose district includes the Emory campus, said in a statement posted to social media that she was “distressed to see photos and videos that appear to show Atlanta Police Officers and Georgia State Patrol using gas and rubber bullets on the protesters, some of whom were students. The most concerning video appears to show a Black man in handcuffs, held down by three officers, being repeatedly tased.”
Parent said the right to protest and free speech are “foundational to our rights and freedoms.”
“At the same time, safe places to learn and the university’s mission are essential to the community I represent. I am speaking with our law enforcement officials, University leaders, and my constituents to make sure all members of the Emory community feel safe, respected, and fairly treated on Emory’s campus,” her satement said.
Consul General of Israel to the Southeast Anat Sultan-Dadon responded to protests happening across college campuses.
“Demonstrations on college and university campuses, on the streets of so many cities around the United States, rather than call out Hamas and its abhorrent terror and genocidal goal, are encouraging and supporting these barbaric rapists and murderers. These demonstrators call for the elimination of Israel, for a global intifada against the Jewish people. Jewish students are being intimidated, harassed, threatened and assaulted throughout the United States, while the voices of reason, of moral clarity, are too few,” she said.
“Over the last few days, these demonstrations have received the praise of Hamas and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Demonstrators, here in the United States, praised by a terror organization and a terror state, the largest terror sponsor in the world,” Sultan-Dadon said.
She called for leaders who have not yet stepped up – whether academic, political, faith, or communal – to take a clear stand against hate, antisemitism, and the support of terror.
“Not taking a firm stand and calling out evil, amounts to supporting it,” Sultan-Dadon said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
This story has been corrected to clarify that the no-confidence vote against Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves is being conduted by the faculty sentate of the Emory College of Arts and Sciences.