Brown Students Arrested, When will the Arrested Students Get Release?
by Aishwarya R | Updated Dec 12, 2023
Brown Students Arrested
In a significant event at Brown University, 41 students were arrested during a sit-in protest at University Hall. The demonstration aimed to compel the university to divest from companies involved in the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasizing a call for a permanent ceasefire. The arrests occurred at 6 p.m. following the students' prolonged occupation of the closed building.
Brown University, in response to the arrests, issued a press release addressing the disruption to secure buildings. The university expressed its reluctance to make arrests but emphasized that future incidents could lead to more severe charges. One participating student, Kate, highlighted the personal motivation behind the protest, connecting it to the ongoing concerns and fears faced by mothers in Gaza for their children's lives.
Despite the students' demands, President Christina Paxson reaffirmed her decision not to support the ACCRIP report, escalating tensions. In response, the protesting students declared their intention to continue their activism within the Brown Corporation meeting room. The arrests, carried out by University security and Providence police, have set the stage for legal proceedings, with the arraignment scheduled for January 9, 2024, according to the Brown Divest Coalition.
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Demands of Students Protest
The action at Brown University, orchestrated by the Brown Divest Coalition, aimed to convey a powerful message. The Coalition, defining itself as a multicultural and diverse group, demanded that Brown University take a stand for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Their primary call was for the university to divest from companies alleged to facilitate the ongoing conflict, framing it as a response to what they described as a genocide in Gaza.
The protest also served as a display of solidarity with junior Hisham Awartani, who had been tragically shot and paralyzed in Burlington, Vermont, alongside two other individuals of Palestinian descent. The students highlighted this incident to underscore the broader impact of the conflict on individuals, expressing empathy for the victims and their families. Kate, one of the arrested students, revealed a personal motivation, drawing attention to the constant worry endured by mothers in Gaza for the safety of their children.
The students, refusing to leave University Hall, presented specific demands to President Christina Paxson. They insisted that the university commit to endorsing the 2020 report from the Brown University Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility in Investment Practices (ACCRIP). This report had outlined a list of companies, including AB Volvo, Airbus, Boeing, DXC, General Dynamics, General Electric, Motorola, Northrop Grumman, Oaktree Capital, Raytheon, and United Technologies, from which the committee recommended divestment. The students' persistence indicated a commitment to holding the university accountable for its investment practices in alignment with their principles.
Will the Students' Demands Get Approved?
Despite the fervent demands of the students and their insistence on endorsing the 2020 report from the Brown University Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility in Investment Practices (ACCRIP), President Christina Paxson's response indicates a notable challenge. In a letter sent earlier in the day, Paxson expressed her refusal to endorse the report, citing concerns about its lack of rigorous analysis and research, and its failure to sufficiently explain how divestment addresses social harms. This suggests a significant roadblock to the students' demands receiving immediate approval.
Brown University's spokesman, Brian Clark, provided additional insight into the school's financial practices. He clarified that Brown's endowment is primarily managed by external specialist investment managers, emphasizing their commitment to high ethical standards and values aligning with those of the Brown community. Clark also asserted that the endowment does not have direct investments in defense stocks or large munitions manufacturers, as evidenced by publicly available Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings.
The university's response underscores a divergence in perspectives, with the administration emphasizing the ethical and transparent nature of their investment practices. Whether the students' demands will ultimately be approved remains uncertain, as it hinges on potential future negotiations and the university's willingness to reconsider its stance in response to student activism.
When will the Arrested Students Get Release?
The fate of the recently arrested Brown University students prompts speculation about the administration's stance on charges and potential releases. In a notable precedent from November, when 20 students associated with BrownU Jews for Ceasefire Now were arrested for a sit-in at University Hall, the school eventually sought to have trespassing charges dropped. This decision followed significant pressure from over 200 faculty members urging the university to reconsider, particularly in light of the shooting incident involving Hisham Awartani.
The current situation raises questions about whether the administration is genuinely inclined to pursue charges against the 41 arrested students or if a similar reversal might occur. Brown University's spokesman, Brian Clark, emphasized the gravity of arresting students, highlighting that it's not a decision taken lightly. He underscored that the students were aware of the security concerns associated with staying in the building after business hours, especially following the arrest of 20 students in November for willful trespass.
The administration's commitment to addressing the charges or considering their withdrawal remains uncertain. It is likely that ongoing developments, negotiations, and external pressures may influence the eventual release of the arrested students, echoing the dynamics observed in the previous case from November.
Brown Students Arrested - FAQs
The students were arrested for participating in a sit-in protest at University Hall, demanding that Brown University divest from companies associated with the Israel-Hamas conflict and promote a permanent ceasefire.
The students insisted on Brown University endorsing the 2020 report from the Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility in Investment Practices (ACCRIP), which recommended divestment from companies such as AB Volvo, Airbus, Boeing, DXC, General Dynamics, General Electric, Motorola, Northrop Grumman, Oaktree Capital, Raytheon, and United Technologies.
The university, through President Christina Paxson, refused to endorse the ACCRIP report, citing concerns about its lack of rigorous analysis. The administration also issued a statement expressing dissatisfaction with students occupying secure buildings and warned of potential escalation of criminal charges for future incidents.
The protest served as a show of support for Hisham Awartani, who was shot and paralyzed in Burlington, Vermont. The students connected this incident to the broader issue of the Israel-Hamas conflict, emphasizing the human impact and the need for a ceasefire.
The release of the arrested students is uncertain, and it may depend on ongoing negotiations, external pressures, and the university's willingness to reconsider charges. Previous incidents in November, where charges were dropped after faculty pressure, raise questions about the administration's approach to resolving such situations.