By Ariel Godwin, Iowa City
Yesterday, police fired rubber bullets at UCLA students protesting the war on Gaza and campus investments with Israel. This incident adds to a pattern of disproportionate violent responses to peaceful protests. It’s unacceptable that universities are cracking down harshly on free speech, but it’s not surprising. Just like in the ’60s, admin at these institutions claim they had ‘no choice’ but to call in police. And, as Amnesty International points out, “With whom are many U.S. police departments training? With a chronic human rights violator — Israel.”
The parallels between the responses to protests in the U.S. and the current situation in Gaza are alarming. The disproportionate force used against students echoes the brutality witnessed in Gaza, where over 13,000 innocent children have been killed. Both scenarios involve the indefensible use of violence against civilians. Both demand our immediate attention and condemnation.
We can’t sit back and watch as the state declares open season on students, Palestinians, and their supporters.
To put it point blank, this is not going to stop until someone gets Kent Stated. And maybe not even then.
We should be outraged. We should be demanding accountability. We must stand in solidarity with those facing oppression and violence — both at home and abroad.
