Tufts suspends pro-Palestinian student group, citing violent images and language

Tufts University suspended a pro-Palestinian student group last week after it used images of weapons to promote a protest rally and urged members of the Tufts community to “join the student intifada.”

The Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine group was temporarily suspended on October 2, according to a university spokesperson and a social media post from the group itself.

The Tufts spokesperson said the group violated several university policies. They cited an Instagram post published by Tufts SJP on September 30, showing people with assault rifles, calling on their supporters to join a “student intifada” and “an escalation towards Gaza.”

The post was made to promote a series of protests planned for this week that the group has dubbed a “week of anger,” marking the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks and the start of the current war.

“This comes as Israel [sic] continues to rain bombs on Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Iran,” the group wrote in an online petition for reinstatement. «SJP tuft suspension [sic] is an attempt to silence all student voices that educate and advocate against genocide. It is entirely legitimate to protest links to research, investments and any continued support for genocide. A movement cannot be suspended.

The Tufts spokesperson said Tufts SJP also violated university policies on Sept. 12, when members marched through a university building, hung signs and blocked the entrance to another building. The group was already facing disciplinary proceedings linked to this event.

Additionally, the spokesperson said Tufts SJP “failed to meet the requirements of previous disciplinary actions related to protests led by the group last spring.” The group has already been “put on hold,” meaning some of its privileges have been suspended.

“The suspension will remain in effect until the matter is fully resolved.” During this period, SJP must pause all activities, events and meetings. Any attempt to continue operating during this suspension will result in serious disciplinary consequences for both the organization and its leadership,” the Tufts spokesperson said in a statement.

Student protesters appeared to ignore the threats Monday. October 7 marks the first anniversary of Hamas’ attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages.

Instagram posts showed protesters marching across campus, sitting inside an engineering school building with a sign reading “Tufts Investment Office Funds Genocide” and hanging a Palestinian flag on it. ‘interior.

Last year, protesters at Tufts established a “Gaza solidarity encampment,” mirroring tactics used by students at Columbia University and elsewhere to call attention to Israel’s destruction of much of of Gaza and the fate of Palestinian civilians. The Israeli army has killed around 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including 17,000 children, according to the United Nations.

Before the start of the 2024-2025 academic year, Tufts administrators outlined rules regarding protests on campus.

“At the start of this academic year, Tufts University outlined its expectations for student protests and advocacy. We have provided clear guidelines to ensure a learning environment free of disruptions, while supporting students’ interests in speaking and demonstrating,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “As stated in our August 22 message: ‘Advocacy and protest must not disrupt university operations, engage in name-calling or discrimination, or intimidate or harass others.’ »

The Anti-Defamation League of New England praised Tufts for suspending the group.

As Israel invades Lebanon and considers ways to retaliate against Iran, protests against the country’s military actions, its broader treatment of Palestinians, and U.S. support for the Israeli military also continue outside college campuses of Massachusetts. On Sunday, thousands of people took to Storrow Drive to block traffic and call for an end to the ongoing violence.