Israel-Palestinian campus protests spread to Tennessee

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Protests concerning the ongoing Israel-Hamas War continue to spread throughout college campuses across America.

Now, there have been some protests in Tennessee.

The protests began with an encampment at Columbia University in New York City and spread coast to coast.

One group of protestors argue that Israel’s war in Gaza has been genocidal in nature, while counter protestors argue that they are supporting terrorism.

With arrests mounting into the thousands, the question is being asked: What is next?

Here in Tennessee, pro-Palestinian groups held a protest on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville.

They were eventually met by counter protestors who believed they were disrespecting the United States.

A pro-Palestinian supporter, Hamzah Saleh said, “What we all hope will happen is have good sit-down conversation with the University, with our administration. This is something we’ve seen on campus climate all around the United States. Some campuses don’t have the freedoms we have at the University of Tennessee.”

Cade, a pro-Israel supporter said, “The crowd over there, and I’m going to call them out, they told us we couldn’t walk with them, and I said we have every right to walk with them peacefully, just as they do. So, I’m glad people are out there and really showing the American spirit.”

UT Chancellor Donde Plowman confirmed Friday that nine protestors, including seven UT students, had been arrested.

She said while the university works to protect First Amendment rights, they have a limit.

Her statement read as follows:

“Dear Volunteers,

I want to update our campus community about events on campus last night.

Free speech is the backbone of any university, where debate should lead to better solutions and a more durable democracy. We recognize and protect members of the campus community’s right to free speech. We apply laws and policies to everyone equally and without prejudice to preserve the use and enjoyment of university property and protect the safety of members of our community. A group of individuals does not have the right to monopolize university property for an indefinite period of time.

We have been working for days to engage some of our students, beginning with a registered student organization that held a planned civil event on campus on Wednesday followed by a productive meeting with administrators yesterday.

Following the vigil, an unplanned assembly gathered and made its way to the lawn of the College of Law, where final exams are underway. Several university leaders worked all afternoon Wednesday to communicate permissible and impermissible activities to the assembled group and their leaders.

The university’s approach in managing situations such as this one begins with warnings from administrators, and those warnings include notifying participants about the potential escalation to law enforcement if necessary. Participants are given a reasonable opportunity to conform their behavior to law and policies. Campus leaders worked into the night Wednesday following this approach. As we engaged Wednesday night into Thursday morning, the group of protestors decided to leave with no arrests necessary.

The group returned later Thursday, and again campus leaders worked throughout the day to make protesters aware that their event was violating the policy on the use of outdoor space and their plans for the evening would also violate state law. Campus leaders gave protestors time to speak within their group, then Vice Chancellor for Student Life Frank Cuevas delivered a message to the group personally warning them to disband or the UT Police Department would respond. Last night, UTPD arrested nine people—seven students and two people not affiliated with the university. All nine received citations and were released. The students will face sanctions under the Student Code of Conduct.

This was not the result any of us wanted. We will continue to engage with all our students to provide support, and we will also continue to enforce the law and university policy for the benefit and protection of everyone in our community. We ask that all Volunteers express themselves in ways that respect the rights of others.

Donde Plowman
Chancellor”

Representative Chuck Fleischmann, who is staunchly in support of Israel, says he has advice for protestors.

Rep. Fleischmann said, “I think the protests we are seeing across the country, by the Pro-Palestinians, Pro-Hamas Protestors are wrong, they’re misguided… Be peaceful in your protest. I’m a strong supporter of the First Amendment, but I would tell those that are errantly supporting Hamas and what they have done to look at history and read history.”

It is worth noting that we have not seen these protests in Chattanooga at this time.

The closest one was at the University of the South in Sewanee in Franklin County, which has since ended.