VCU Faculty Members Condemn University's Response to Pro-Palestinian Protest

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - In an open letter , Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) faculty and staff condemned the school’s response to a pro-Palestinian protest held outside of the James Branch Cabell Library Monday night.

In a statement earlier this week, the University said the tents and encampments put up by demonstrators were in violation of school policy.

A total of 13 people were arrested, including six students. They were charged with unlawful assembly and trespassing. The six students will go through VCU’s student conduct process, the school said.

In their letter, VCU faculty and staff condemned the University’s decision to deploy police in riot gear “to assault and arrest students and faculty who were protesting peacefully the night of April 29.” The letter added that the “outsized” police response approved by President Rao and school leadership “placed our students, their wellbeing, and their success at this university at risk.”

According to VCU faculty and staff, the actions that night – which included the use of chemical irritants –  violated the rights of students and faculty to express their freedom of speech and academic freedom.

The letter has been signed by 86 VCU faculty and staff members, and 75 students and alumni.