Savanna Hoffman
On Thursday night, 36 protesters, including 16 Ohio State University students, were arrested on the university's South Oval lawn. The protesters were calling for an end to investment in Israel and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The protest was peaceful, and many of the protesters were praying in a circle when they were arrested. The police response has been criticized as excessive, with reports of religious discrimination and unnecessary violence. The university has defended its actions, stating that it needed to disperse the encampment for the safety of the university community.
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What You'll Learn
Students were protesting the war in Gaza and Israel's involvement
On Thursday night, approximately 30 to 36 Ohio State University students and community members were arrested while protesting the war in Gaza and Israel's involvement. The protest was held on the university's South Oval lawn, with demonstrators calling on the university to end funding for companies that support Israel as the Middle Eastern state wages war in Gaza. The protest was organised by a collection of local Ohio university chapters of the Students for Justice in Palestine.
The protest was advertised as "high risk" by the organisers, and police arrived at the scene with shields, arrest vans, and a helicopter. Officers formed a wall around the protestors' ring and slowly began pulling out and arresting individuals. Protestors were chanting, "let them pray" as they were dragged away.
Many students have criticised the university's response to the protest, with some claiming that the police response was excessive and that they felt less trustful of campus police following the incident. Some protestors also pointed to the roof of the Ohio Union, claiming that there were armed officers pointing firearms down at them. A university spokesperson initially denied these claims but later confirmed that officers on the roof were armed with long-range firearms.
Several student organisations have called out the university for its handling of the protest, with some alleging religious discrimination and unnecessary levels of violence. All those arrested were charged with criminal trespassing, a fourth-degree misdemeanour punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $250 fine.
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36 people were arrested, including 16 students
On Thursday night, 36 people were arrested during a protest at Ohio State University. The protest called for an end to investment in Israel and the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The protest was organised by a collection of local Ohio university chapters of the Students for Justice in Palestine. The event was attended by hundreds of Ohio State students, employees, and community members.
Of the 36 people arrested, 16 were students at the university, and 20 were not affiliated with the institution. All 36 were charged with criminal trespassing, a misdemeanour punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $250 fine. The protesters were warned by police that they would be arrested and charged with criminal trespassing if they did not disperse. Officers approached the crowd of about 250, who were forming a circle around at least ten tents, and dragged the protesters to the arrest vans one by one.
Several student, staff, and faculty organisations criticised the university's response to the protest, calling it excessive and citing instances of religious discrimination and unnecessary violence. They also pointed to the fact that the protest was peaceful and that the police response was disproportionate. CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox said, "It is alarming to receive reports of protesters having their hijabs ripped off and being arrested while in prayer. Muslim students are not just feeling unsafe on campus, but being actively criminalized."
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Students claim they were subjected to violence and religious discrimination
On Thursday night, approximately 30 to 36 students and community members were arrested on the South Oval of Ohio State University's campus while protesting the war in Gaza and calling for an end to investment in Israel. The protest was organised by a collection of local Ohio university chapters of the Students for Justice in Palestine.
The protesters were charged with criminal trespassing, a fourth-degree misdemeanour punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a $250 fine. All those arrested were released without having to pay any bond and are scheduled to appear in court soon.
Several students, staff, and faculty organisations have criticised the university's response to the protest and the arrests. They have alleged that the university's actions constituted religious discrimination and violence. CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox stated that it was "deeply concerning" that the university's response to students demonstrating peacefully in solidarity with Palestine was the "forcible suppression of free speech and assembly". She also expressed alarm at reports of protesters having their hijabs ripped off and being arrested while praying, stating that "Muslim students are not just feeling unsafe on campus, but are being actively criminalised".
Abdullahi, another protester, recounted that she was grabbed by her headscarf and pushed to the ground, resulting in painful bruising. She emphasised that the protesters posed no threat and were simply exercising their right to peacefully express their support for Palestinians. Skyler Goody, an OSU junior, also described the police response as excessive, noting that people were pushed over while praying and that riot gear was used despite the peaceful nature of the protest.
In response to the criticism, Ohio State University spokesman Ben Johnson stated that overnight events and camping are prohibited by university rules. He added that protesters were instructed to disperse multiple times and given warnings before arrests were made. Johnson also confirmed that Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers on the roof were initially unarmed but that the protocol changed once law enforcement began using force to arrest protesters, and those on the roof then had long-range firearms as a standard safety measure.
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The university defended its actions, citing safety concerns
Ohio State University has defended its handling of an anti-Israel campus protest that resulted in the arrests of nearly 40 people, including students and community members. The university has stated that its "priority is always the health, safety and well-being" of its students and staff, and that arrests are not taken lightly. University spokesman Ben Johnson emphasised that overnight events and camping are prohibited by university rules, and that protesters were instructed to disperse multiple times before they were arrested.
In response to criticism from student, staff, and faculty organisations, Johnson acknowledged that the use of force by law enforcement was a standard safety measure for large gatherings. He stated that the Ohio State Highway Patrol provided "overwatch support" and that such support is typically armed to protect the safety of all present, including demonstrators. Johnson also confirmed that troopers on the roof were initially unarmed but that the protocol changed once force was used to make arrests.
The university's defence centres on the notion that their actions were necessary to ensure the safety of their community. They maintain that the protest violated established university rules and that protesters were given multiple warnings before arrests were made. By citing safety concerns, the university justifies its decision to involve law enforcement and take proactive measures to disperse the encampment.
However, students and community members have criticised the university's response, arguing that the police response was excessive and that their freedom of speech and assembly was suppressed. Some protesters reported being manhandled, with reports of hijabs being ripped off and individuals being pushed to the ground. Students also expressed feeling unsafe and criminalised for their religious beliefs, with officers moving in to make arrests as Muslim students congregated for evening prayers.
The incident has sparked debate about the role of universities in censoring pro-peace, anti-war, and pro-Palestine advocacy on campuses. While the university maintains that its actions were in the best interest of its community, student groups like SJP Ohio have accused the university of creating an environment of force and intimidation, with reports of unnecessary violence and religious discrimination during arrests.
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Muslim students felt unsafe and criminalised on campus
Muslim students at Ohio State University have expressed feelings of unease and criminalisation following the recent arrests of protesters on campus. The protests, which called for an end to investment in Israel and the war in Gaza, resulted in the arrests of 36 individuals, with 16 being students and 20 not affiliated with the university.
The timing of the arrests has caused particular concern among Muslim students. Reports indicate that law enforcement officers moved in to make arrests as Muslim students were gathering for evening prayers. Some protesters claimed that the police response was excessive and that they felt intimidated by the presence of armed officers on the roof of the Ohio Union, overlooking the South Oval.
In a statement, Victoria Hickcox, CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director, said, "It is alarming to receive reports of protesters having their hijabs ripped off and being arrested while in prayer. Muslim students are not just feeling unsafe on campus, but being actively criminalised." Hickcox further emphasised the importance of all students feeling safe to express their views and assemble peacefully, demanding that the university cease any acts of repression against protesters.
Abdullahi, another protester, shared their traumatic experience, stating that they were grabbed by their headscarf, pushed to the ground, and sustained bruising. They questioned the police response, asserting that the peaceful protesters posed no threat.
The university, however, defended its actions, stating that its priority is the health, safety, and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff. The university also cited rules prohibiting camping and overnight events as reasons for the intervention.
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Frequently asked questions
Ohio State University students were not arrested for praying. They were arrested for criminal trespassing on university grounds. The students were protesting the war in Gaza and calling for an end to investment in Israel.
Protestors claim that the police response was excessive and that they were subjected to religious discrimination and unnecessary violence.
The university spokesman, Ben Johnson, said that camping is prohibited by university rules and that protestors were instructed to disperse multiple times before being arrested.
Approximately 36 protestors were arrested, 16 of whom were students at the university.
