Tension continues to simmer on the Emory University campus following Thursday’s Pro-Palestine and Stop Cop City protest that ended with the arrest of 28 people, including students and faculty.
While the protest remained peaceful on Friday and most of Saturday, the situation changed on the evening of April 27 after several protesters “rapidly approached Convocation Hall and spray-painted hateful messages” on the building’s exterior walls with “Free Palestine,” “Stop Cop City,” “Fire Fenves,” and “Emory must divest” according to a letter from Emory President Gregory L. Fenves.
More blatant graffiti read “Death to Israel,” as well as “Emory University of Genocide” spray-painted on the limestone North Decatur Road entrance sign.
It was the second time since April 24 that buildings on the quad have been defaced. Emory police officers on Sunday issued criminal trespass warnings to six individuals suspected in criminal activity on campus. None of the individuals are affiliated with Emory. They were all escorted off campus property.
Fenves called the graffiti “a brazen disruption.”
“Emory is navigating a divide between individuals who wish to express themselves peacefully and those who seek to use our campus as a platform to promote discord. Incidents like this—perpetrated by those who aim to disrupt and divide us—must be rejected and condemned at Emory,” Fenves said.
Fenves said he is dedicated to keeping campus safe as community members finish classes, continue their research, sit for exams, and prepare for commencement. Meanwhile, the senate faculty of the Emory College of Arts and Sciences has called for a no-confidence vote against Fenves for Thursday’s police response to protesters.
Individuals at Emory School of Law have approached the administration asking for professors to give a pass/fail grading option because they’re afraid to be on campus. Finals have already begun for some students.
Rough Draft obtained a letter to administrators written by graduating law school students that reads, in part: “… recent disturbances during finals have significantly impacted our student body, hindering their ability to concentrate and perform to their fullest potential.”
The letter continues tha ongoing tensions after the Hamas invasion of Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 and the subsequent war and protests “have created an environment of heightened stress and anxiety among our students. This atmosphere of unrest has made it exceptionally challenging for students to focus on their exams, irrespective of their personal affiliations or stances on the issue.”
“In light of these circumstances, I strongly urge the administration to consider implementing a pass/fail grading option for all law students this semester. As well as the option to take our finals from the comfort of our own homes. Such measures would provide much-needed relief to students who have been disproportionately affected by the disruptions and allow them to demonstrate their understanding of the material without the added pressure of traditional grading,” the letter goes on.
“We are afraid to come to campus,” said an Emory law student, who asked that their name not be used in this report. “Yesterday at the rally [protesters] called for an escalation. They’re already vandalizing. They’re already harassing and intimidating students. What does escalation mean? What is next, and why isn’t the university responding?”
Rough Draft is awaiting a response from Emory about the students’ request.
“You need to make your Jewish students during finals feel like they can step on campus and go to class. You need to not have Jewish students walking across campus being called genocide lovers, baby killers, pigs, and equating us to the KKK. Enough’s enough,” the student said.
The university released the following statement: “Emory is aware of students’ concerns and requests regarding final exams and other end-of-term work. University leaders are encouraging faculty to provide appropriate flexibility to support affected students in successfully completing the semester on time.”
Jewish studies classes last week went virtual when protests broke out at Emory. Hateful speech at other college demonstrations including Columbia, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, and Indiana University, have made national news. The AP is reporting that Northeastern University protests had become “infiltrated by professional organizers” with no affiliation to the school and antisemitic slurs, including “kill the Jews,” had been used.
Right-wing social media personality Jackson Hinkle was seen on Emory’s campus on April 27. Hinkle wrote on X that “Emory University stands with Palestine. Atlanta cops stand with genocidal Israel.”
“The police investigation into this incident continues and further charges may be pending. Chief Burt Buchtinec thanks the community members who alerted police with descriptions of the individuals,” said Emory spokesperson Laura Diamond.
This article has been updated to reflect Emory’s response.