Image Credit: City Council Movement – Knoxville / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
Pro-Hamas protests led to the arrest of nine individuals on the University of Tennessee Knoxville campus last week.
A crowd of protestors that gathered on the lawn of the university’s law school refused to abide by UT’s events policy and were guilty of trespassing. After being told to disperse by 9 p.m. or face consequences which included suspension or possibly being arrested, law enforcement stepped in and made the arrests.
At least two of the individuals taken into police custody were not students or affiliated with the university at all. Students who were arrested will face school discipline as a result of their actions.
UTK Chancellor Donde Plowman affirmed the right to free speech of all members of the campus but said that groups do not have the right to “monopolize university property for an indefinite period of time.”
“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,” Plowman said.
Both planned and unplanned protests have unfolded on campus according to Plowman.
A registered event planned by a student organization – Students for Justice in Palestine – was held last Wednesday which was followed up with a meeting with school administrators in which students discussed the university’s investments in regards to ties with Israel and the safety of those protesting.
By Wednesday afternoon, a group led by People’s School for Gaza gathered on the lawn of the College of Law for an unplanned assembly disrupting final exams.
After protestors threatened to stay on the lawn overnight, UT had police show up and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office was put on standby.
At that point, protestors left on their own for the night but returned on Thursday to gather illegally once again. Despite university leadership communicating school policy and state law with protestors, the protest only disbanded after the arrests were made on Thursday night. A fence surrounding the lawn has since been set up.
Earlier last week, five students who had planted themselves on the roof of All Saints’ Chapel at Sewanee: The University of the South pledged not to leave until their demands were met.
The students were part of a larger group protesting at the private Episcopal school, located an hour west of Chattanooga. The protestors were demanding that the University of the South disclose how its endowment is invested and divest any businesses that have tie to the manufacturing of weapons.
Protestors were told by the university to break down their encampment or face expulsion. After being granted an interview with the chancellor, students on the roof eventually came down and students removed their signs and tables in front of the chapel.
“We have been tolerant of this. We’ve been willing to share this time with you all,” said Vice Chancellor Rob Parigen. “But now it’s time for this to end.”
A freshman at Vanderbilt was recently expelled from the university for his part in protests which advocated for the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Jack Petocz, an outspoken gay student, is just one of many LGBTQ activists who support pro-Hamas policies against Israel while not acknowledging that the underlying belief system that drives Hamas sees being gay as a crime worthy of torture and death.
In contrast to the anti-Israel rhetoric on the grounds of UT during last week’s protests, eight thousand students on campus chose instead to live up the name of Jesus Christ.
An event organized by Unite US at the Thomson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville on Wednesday night presented the gospel to students. The faith event concluded with 150 individuals choosing baptism.
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
3 Responses
It’s beyond disingenuous to call these protests “pro-Hamas”!!! Be honest and tell the truth about these protests! These protests are anti-ZIONISM, plain and simple – as they should be! Why do you continue to support the Satanic Israeli regime which genocides innocent Palestinians 24/7/365?
universities are indoctrinating students to marxism/socialism and to protest against America and its allies and capitalism. None of them have lived under socialism. Why are theese “institutes of higher learning” surprised then when they get the results they preached for decades? Why are these young skulls full of mush willingly ignorant of the facts? “Jack Petocz, an outspoken gay student, is just one of many LGBTQ activists who support pro-Hamas policies against Israel while not acknowledging that the underlying belief system that drives Hamas sees being gay as a crime worthy of torture and death.” When one group of protesters was shown VIDEOS of the atrocities of Oct 7, their respose was, “LIES! LIES” You can’t argue with stupid people. If you mistakenly believe that the USA is intolerant, take your LGBT++ lifestyle to Gaza/Iran/Syria/Lebanon and report back in 3 months.
Steven “Sick killer”” should join the other traitors and find a state that matches their sick obsession: like maybe Iran.