As a result of an on-campus protest, Brown University temporarily suspends the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
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, Brown University announced it has temporarily suspended the university's chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine pending the completion of a full investigation by the university. According to the university, it has decided to start an investigation and required the group to cease all organizational activities pending the review due to “the severity of alleged threatening, intimidating and harassing actions during an event on campus.” “While Brown's policies make clear that protest is a necessary and acceptable means of expression on campus, protest cannot interfere with the normal functions of the University, include intimidation or harassment of community members, or infringe on the rights of others. We are committed to upholding freedom of expression while also respecting the dignity and humanity of others,” the Brown University said in a statement. The Brown Divest Coalition, an umbrella organization that includes SJP and is committed to divestment and Palestinian liberation, said in response to the investigation and the temporary suspension of SJP, “These outrageous actions are merely a continuation of Brown’s efforts to intimidate anyone and everyone who attempts to hold Brown’s governing bodies accountable for their explicit support of genocide, apartheid, and scholasticide. This suspension and other allegations made against SJP by the administration are a retaliatory, politically-motivated ploy to defame protestors, fracture the student movement, and detract from their complicity in the extermination of the Palestinian people.” According to university policy, suspension revotes the group’s official recognition as a school organization.In a previous letter sent to the entire Brown campus community, administrators described student protesters crowding and yelling profanities at a bus full of Brown Corporation members. University officials described the incident as “unacceptable” and threatening behavior that violates student conduct.This week’s suspension of SJP, a member organization of Brown Divest Coalition, was not shocking to some student members. “Not at all we knew that this crack down-- the differential rules and expectations-- the Palestine exception if you will, was strong at this university,” a SJP member told NBC 10. The student members said that since their organization began last year, students affiliated with the pro-Palestine movement have faced differential treatment when it comes to university discipline. Most recently, members of the Jews for Ceasefire Now said they were cited for their overnight camping in a Gaza solidarity Sukkah, which they say has been respected religious practice on campus for years. “It's a policy that we know is being enforced because of the administration’s fear of the encampments and after all of the organizing we've done this year-- only being enforced because of our political views,” a SJP member said. In response to that incident, Brown University has said that, “Sleeping on University green spaces is prohibited per long-standing Brown policy. The green space usage policy is more than a decade old and prohibits any kind of encampment on Brown’s historical greens or residential quadrangles.” NBC 10 has also reached out to members of the university administration for an interview but has not heard back.
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Brown University suspends its chapter of Students for Justice in PalestineKyla Guilfoil is a news associate for NBC News.
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Brown University suspends pro-Palestine student organization pending investigationAs a result of an on-campus protest, Brown University temporarily suspends the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
Read more »
Brown University suspends pro-Palestine student organization pending investigationAs a result of an on-campus protest, Brown University temporarily suspends the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
Read more »
Brown University suspends pro-Palestine student organization pending investigationAs a result of an on-campus protest, Brown University temporarily suspends the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
Read more »
Brown University suspends pro-Palestine student organization pending investigationAs a result of an on-campus protest, Brown University temporarily suspends the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
Read more »
Brown University suspends pro-Palestine student organization pending investigationAs a result of an on-campus protest, Brown University temporarily suspends the school's Students for Justice in Palestine chapter.
Read more »