Leaked memo reveals inside details of UT's protest response
AUSTIN (Nexstar) -- University of Texas Austin leaders have given an "interim suspension" to the Palestine Solidarity Committee after making numerous attempts to meet with student organizers and quell the protest that led to at least 55 arrests and national controversy, an internal memo obtained by KXAN shows.
"April 24th was a difficult day and one that we had hoped and worked to avoid," the memo states, proceeding to detail specific steps the university took before, during, and after the protest to calm the tensions.
University officials reached out to the student organization multiple times in an attempt to meet with them, but the students who agreed to attend "chose to no-show," the memo states. UT representatives also visited the Nueces Mosque on the morning of the protest and has had "ongoing dialog with the Imam and leaders within the Muslim community."
The Dean of Students sent a letter to the PSC, canceling the event because it "called for actions that violated our Institutional Rules." UT leaders were well-aware of the disruption spurred by similar groups at Yale, Columbia, Rutgers, and more. They were intent on sending a message that UT would not allow the campus to be "taken."
"We requested additional manpower support based on the intelligence and concern from outside disruptors," the memo states. "It was important to have a significant police presence to make clear this University would not be co-opted by these outside agitators."
After the event proceeded despite notice of cancellation, President Jay Hartzell called in the Texas Department of Public Safety, who arrived with at least 75 troopers donning riot gear and arrested dozens of students and one photojournalist.
"The Dean of Students and law enforcement engaged with protestors – many of whom were unaffiliated with the University and believed to be professional agitators – informing them when they were violating rules and giving them ample opportunity to comply. They also issued multiple warnings that they would resort to making arrests if they refused to comply. Ultimately, they made arrests as needed," the memo states.
The show of force against the protest sparked national controversy and calls from students and faculty for Hartzell to resign.
"The egregious abuse of power by UT police will not be stood for and we will not accept it here at this campus," a leader of the PSC shouted to a crowd of hundreds at a protest on Thursday.
"As a tenured faculty member, I support them," Dr. Amy Sanders said. "It doesn't matter whether you're pro-Palestine or not. Regardless of your position, students need to know that faculty support the right to express those views."
The memo states that "Going forward... the University continues to emphatically support the First Amendment right of free speech and will continue to encourage the right to protest within the Institutional Rules and the law."
A senior UT official would not clarify whether they will take additional disciplinary action against the arrested students, citing federal privacy protections.