UNH students, professors blast arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters: 'Deeply disturbing'

DURHAM — Sebastian Rowan, a Ph.D candidate who could face prison time for his alleged assault of police, spoke about his hopes and fears Monday during the latest pro-Palestinian rally at the University of New Hampshire.

“I’ll be honest, I’m scared,” Rowan told a crowd of several hundred in front of Thompson Hall. “Because of UNH’s decision to bring in police to violently cross a peaceful protest, I’m now facing up to five years in state prison. I’m afraid that my plans for this year will be upended. I’m afraid to be here right now, because I know that UNH doesn’t respect our right to speak freely."

Rowan, 29, was charged with an enhanced misdemeanor of simple assault against law enforcement as well as Class A misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct and criminal trespass. If he's found guilty, the enhanced misdemeanor is punishable by 2-1/2 to 5 years in New Hampshire State Prison.

Rowan said he's looking forward to graduating and celebrating his fifth wedding anniversary this year, in addition to marking his daughter’s third birthday and turning 30 years old. Those happy occasions are now marred by the seriousness of the charges he faces.

"But I refuse to be silenced," Rowan said. "I refuse to be silenced because the punishments I’m facing, and the fear that I’m feeling right now, is nothing compared to what the people of Gaza have been facing for generations, and especially in the last six months.”

More: Details of UNH students' alleged assault of police at pro-Palestine rally emerge

On May 1, Rowan was one of 12 people arrested, including 10 UNH students. Police took action when protesters attempted to set up an encampment similar to those seen on campuses across the nation in response to the Hamas-Israel conflict. Protesters opposed to Israel's military attacks in Gaza say they want their schools to stop investing endowment money in Israeli companies and other businesses, like weapons manufacturers, that profit from the war.

UNH professors back students' right to speak

The student-led Palestine Solidarity Coalition’s response Monday to last week’s arrests featured students, staff, faculty and alumni taking turns expressing outrage. Members of the UNH faculty stood Monday with demonstrators.

Siobhan Senier, professor and chairperson of the women’s and gender studies department, told demonstrators they are acting how students are supposed to act during their time in higher education. Senier said after the school’s budget cuts this year resulted in the closure of the campus art museum and termination of dozens of university staff, it’s now worth examining the school’s budget for campus police.

“You’re educating yourselves. You’re educating this community,” Senier said. “I got a little bit of insight into the kind of climate that a lot of you are studying within. You’re unfortunately a minority on this campus. You get harassed, get shouted down for doing the right thing. Just know that you’re on the right side of history. It’s good to be asking questions.”

John Collins, a 37-year faculty member, is an associate professor in molecular, cellular and biomedical sciences. Collins read aloud a portion of the University System of New Hampshire’s mission statement. A section dedicated to USNH’s values references “freedom of inquiry, deliberation, and expression,” in addition to “honesty, integrity, openness, and transparency in all dealings.”

Collins called on USNH to release all communications between the school, state and responding authorities before, during and after the May 1 demonstration and ensuing arrests.

Collins also echoed numerous demands made by the Palestine Solidarity Coalition, calling for charges against the arrested demonstrators to be dropped and for the school’s police chief, Paul Dean, to resign or be placed on leave while facing an independent investigation.

The UNH chapter of the American Association of University Professors has previously voiced support for UNH student protesters and outrage over the arrests. The union’s current president, Cliff Brown, and incoming union president, Paula Salvio, attended Monday's event.

“What is deeply disturbing is the way that riot police came in to shut down the deliberation, conversation, exploration … This is a college campus,” Salvio said. “Our students are doing exactly what we need to do for democracy to work. Democracy is difficult, and democracy is uncomfortable. It doesn’t require the riot police to come in. Those are feelings I think that many of us are sharing.”

The tension on campus comes in the days before UNH is expected to announce the successor to retiring school President James W. Dean Jr.

UNH Police Chief Paul Dean and school officials previously said students were warned not to set up encampments in the permitting process for last week's rally and multiple times in person before and during the May 1 rally. Chief Dean said he and officers from local and state police were assaulted when they attempted to disperse the crowd after about 40 minutes of warnings.

UNH says it supports freedom of speech

UNH spokesperson Tania deLuzuriaga called the Monday demonstrations in front of Thompson Hall “impassioned, provocative and peaceful,” saying in a statement the university is committed to upholding freedom of speech for its entire community.

“UNH has long supported the First Amendment rights of our students, faculty, and community, and today’s events are an example of how to exercise our constitutional rights of assembly and expression to draw attention to a cause,” she said.

“No one exercising their free speech rights on campus speaks on behalf of the University of New Hampshire, but we will continue to protect the constitutionally guaranteed rights of our students, faculty, and the public to safely share their views in accordance with the law and university policy,” deLuzuriaga said.

A small group of American flag-toting students countered the Monday rally on the Thompson Hall lawn, at times yelling out chants in support of the United States. Other students climbed in trees, mockingly yelling out demands from the school administration, while some passing cars blared the national anthem on Main Street.

Monday was UNH's final day of classes for the spring semester. Final exams are scheduled to begin Thursday. Commencement ceremonies are scheduled Friday, May 17 to Sunday, May 19.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: UNH students, professors blast arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters: 'Deeply disturbing'