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Content Warning: This article contains references to sexual assault and murder.
Protests on Emory University’s Quadrangle are entering their fourth day after April 25, when Emory Police Department (EPD) officers arrested 28 pro-Palestine protesters with the help of the Atlanta Police Department and Georgia State Patrol.
At a demonstration on the Quad last night, three unidentified protestors spray painted “LAND BACK,” “FUK USA,” DEATH 2 [ISRAEL]” and an anarchy symbol on the side of Convocation Hall, after which Open Expression observers requested that all Emory students leave the Quad. The crowd dispersed around 10:30 p.m. The three unidentified individuals responsible for the spray painting are not affiliated with Emory, according to Vice President of Communications and Marketing Luke Anderson.
6:00 p.m.
An individual walked up to the commencement stage structure with a speaker and a posterboard but was stopped by an open expression observer. The individual returned to a circle of around 10 protestors sitting on the Quad.
– Lauren Yee
4:43 p.m.
Approximately 40 people remain on the Quad, and some have gathered into circles and began to play music.
– Jack Rutherford
3:55 p.m.
EPD detained one individual on the Quad near the Administration Building. The individual was escorted by EPD off the Quad and escorted him into a car. EPD declined to comment on why they detained the individual. An open expression observer told the Wheel that he does not know why the person was detained. Another open expression observer said that the individual was not an Emory student. 10 EPD officers talked briefly outside the police car before driving away.
– Lauren Yee
3:30 p.m.
Emory Stop Cop City posted a story on Instagram that today’s planned march at Asbury Circle has been canceled due to the “cancellation” of Norman Finklestein.
Finklestein decided not to give a speech at the Emory University School of Law after a speaker at the law school said students were “silencing” conservative commentator Jackson Hinkle.
– Spencer Friedland
2:51 p.m.
Outside of Cox Hall, a student hung flyers of Israeli hostages that are being held by Hamas in Gaza.
– Spencer Friedland
2:25 p.m.
People walking past demonstrators on the Quad yelled at the demonstrators, “this is ridiculous.” One said that his parents are the ones who will have to pay for the graffiti removal.
– Spencer Friedland
2:18 p.m.
Attendees are making their way toward the Quad from the Emory University School of Law. Open Expression observers announced again that the event had ended and that non-students needed to leave the building at approximately 2:10 p.m.
– Jack Rutherford
1:50 p.m.
Less than an hour after the event began, a speaker at the event accused students of “silencing” conservative commentator Jackson Hinkle, who was allegedly on campus last night. Hinkle is known for his anti-Israel views.
Open Expression Observers took the stage to remind the audience of Emory’s Respect for Open Expression Policy before organizers took a break to “regroup” and continue on with the event.
“We had some unexpected issues on some of the speeches,” an organizer said.
Organizers announced the event had concluded, as Norman Finkelstein did not want to take the stage after the speaker. The spectators began to chant, “Let them speak.”
– Jack Rutherford
1:40 p.m.
Multiple organizations, including the Council on America-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the International Refugee Assistance Project, hosted an event at the Emory University School of Law featuring speakers including activist and political scientist Norman Finkelstein. Finkelstein is known for being critical of Israeli policy. He rose to fame after publishing “The Holocaust Industry” in 2000. Roughly 200 attendees gathered to listen to Finkelstein’s discussion.
One speaker described the Oct. 7 attacks as an “offensive.”
“But there were no beheaded babies, no babies in ovens, no mass rape,” the speaker said. “No civilians burned alive.”
Emory-Israel Public Affairs Committee, a campus pro-Israel organization, released a statement on Instagram condemning Finkelstein’s presence on campus.
“We vehemently condemn the decision by Emory Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), among other organizations, to host Norman Finkelstein on our campus on April 28th,” the statement said. “Finkelstein, a known Holocaust denier and supporter of Hezbollah and Hamas - represents ideologies that conflict with the values of respectful and constructive discourse.”
– Jack Rutherford
If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault, you can access Emory’s Title IX resources at 404-727-0541 orhttps://equityandcompliance.emory.edu/title-ix/index.html and the Office of Respect at https://respect.emory.edu/ or their hotline 24/7 at (404) 727-1514. You can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault hotline 24/7 at (800) 656-4673 or https://hotline.rainn.org/online. You can reach the Atlanta Grady Rape Crisis Center crisis hotline 24/7 at (404) 616-4861 or gradyrapecrisiscenter@gmh.edu and the Decatur Day League Sexual Assault Care and Prevention crisis hotline 24/7 at (404) 377-1428.
If you or someone you know have been affected by homicide or murder, you can reach Emory’s Counseling and Psychological Services at (404) 727-7450 orhttps://counseling.emory.edu/. You can reach the Emory Police Department at (404) 727-6111 or the Atlanta Police Department at (404) 614-6544.
