Thirteen people were arrested at Princeton University on Monday amid the pro-Palestinian protest there. As well as calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, the protesters have called for Princeton University to divest from Israel, begin affiliating with Palestinian institutions and end study-abroad programs in Israel.
Aditi Rao, a graduate student at Princeton, was one of those detained Monday by police. Rao, who isn’t allowed on campus during her disciplinary process, said, “The university was totally silent. They refused to speak with all of the bargaining committee, which included faculty, which included postdocs, which included students.” While she has a court date in a few weeks, her status with the school is up in the air.
On Monday night, Princeton University President Christopher Eisgruber said, “I appreciate that this incident was and remains deeply upsetting to many people, including especially the staff of the Graduate School. It is also completely unacceptable. Everyone on this campus needs to feel safe and to be safe. Faculty, students, and staff must be able to conduct University business without disruption, harassment, or threat. We will continue to work to ensure that this campus is one where all members of the community feel welcome and can thrive.”
Raz Segal, associate professor of Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Stockton University, said, “U.S. politicians don’t really believe in the core values of U.S. democracy, right?”
Former New Jersey Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer said: “Since they (politicians) don’t like this particular protest, they are willing to see and condone very heavy-handed reactions to it.” She added, “I will certainly name Josh Gottheimer as one of the worst offenders … And I think a lot of elected officials in New Jersey are very out of touch with young people.”
Rep. Gottheimer (D-5th) was one of 21 members of Congress to sign a letter calling for trustees at Columbia University to disband the encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters there, and if they don’t, “they should resign so that they can be replaced by individuals who will uphold the University’s legal obligations.”
