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Protesters also set up encampments at the University of
Illinois, Illinois State, Northwestern, the University of
Chicago and other schools.
DePaul Professor Jason Hill told The Center Square that college
administrators had to act when things went out of hand with
vandalism and physical harm inflicted against Jewish students.
“Let’s not ever fool ourselves into thinking that the
administrators on these campuses are for law and order. The
students are the ventriloquists of the professoriate, of the
administration,” Hill said.
Hill said he was listening for “Free Palestine, Free the
hostages,” or some sort of reciprocity, but there wasn’t any.
“And you saw the trenchant harassment of Jewish students on
campuses, the threats that were made against them,” Hill said.
Knives and other weapons were found at the protesters’
encampment. There were also allegations of harassment,
intimidation and antisemitism.
Several Illinois colleges and universities have made adjustments
after protesters disrupted classes and campus activities last
spring. The University of Illinois made changes to its Campus
Administrative Manual regarding university property and
expressive activity on campus.
The first day of fall classes at DePaul is Sept. 4. Around the
country, some protest groups and individuals have indicated that
they plan to resume protests in the fall.
Hill said the protests were not simply pro-Palestinian.
“This was an issue in which the far left and the progressives
used these encampment movements not just to register their
protest against Israel, but also to register deep,
anti-American, unpatriotic sentiments against the United States
of America,” Hill explained.
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