Police Response to Campus Protests Amid Gaza Conflict
Source: CNN
Universities and colleges across the nation are facing protests over Israel's assault on Gaza, leading them to seek police intervention to clear their campuses. Since mid-April, thousands have been arrested, sparking scrutiny over law enforcement's response.
Videos capturing the confrontations between police and protesters show a range of tactics used to disperse demonstrators from school buildings and dismantle on-campus encampments, some of which turned violent.
Civil rights groups have condemned what they perceive as an excessive police reaction, with officers in riot gear resorting to rubber bullets, chemical irritants, and pepper balls. Law enforcement agencies defend their actions as balancing protesters' First Amendment rights with upholding the law and ensuring safety.
Experts in law enforcement note the disparities in police tactics nationwide, highlighting variations in training and understanding of best practices for handling protests and crowd control.
Despite the criticisms, experts acknowledge that police have shown restraint in using force, attributing this to lessons learned from the George Floyd protests four years ago, which were more intense and prolonged.
Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum, emphasized the impact of the 2020 protests on police response to demonstrations, stating that law enforcement was unprepared for the level of violence encountered.
Since mid-April, over 2,000 individuals have been arrested on US campuses amidst debates on the right to protest, free speech limits, and accusations of antisemitism. Protesters at various universities have called for divestment from companies supporting Israel and an end to the assault on Gaza.
The crackdown on protesters has led to clashes and standoffs with police, resulting in canceled or modified graduation ceremonies and heightened security measures on campuses.
Recent Campus Protests and Police Response
In a recent incident at Columbia University, NYPD officers, equipped with riot gear, intervened to remove pro-Palestinian student protesters from a barricaded building. This action took place on April 30, highlighting the ongoing tensions on college campuses.
Police Actions at Various Universities
At Columbia University, the New York Police Department was requested to stay on campus until May 17 following a confrontation where officers used heavy-duty tools to breach a building occupied by protesters. Similarly, at the University of Arizona, police resorted to pepper balls and rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators. UCLA also witnessed law enforcement firing rubber bullets to regain control of an encampment site.
Escalation of Conflict
The conflict escalated on October 7 when Hamas militants initiated attacks in southern Israel, resulting in casualties and hostages. Israel's military response led to a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with a significant number of Palestinian casualties reported.
President Biden's Response
President Joe Biden recently addressed the protests, emphasizing the distinction between peaceful and violent demonstrations. He reiterated his support for Israel and opposed calls for National Guard intervention at universities.
Police Presence on Campus
Universities rarely involve local police on their campuses, with the approach differing between public and private institutions. Public schools often have agreements with police agencies, while private universities rely on security personnel, leading to varying responses to incidents.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
Following the 2020 protests, there has been a greater emphasis on dialogue and engagement with protesters. The Police Executive Research Forum highlighted the importance of evolving police strategies, recommending against mass arrests and advocating for effective communication during demonstrations.
Overall, the recent campus protests and police responses underscore the complex dynamics at play in addressing student activism and maintaining order on university grounds.
Reimagining Public Demonstrations: A Shift in Policing Tactics
In a recent interview with CNN, Wexler highlighted the evolving dynamics of public demonstrations. He noted that while the focus of protests in the past was often on the police, there is now a trend of universities seeking police intervention to maintain order. However, he cautioned that any event has the potential to spiral out of control, leading to the police becoming the central target of demonstrators.
According to Wexler, the majority of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests were peaceful. However, a small faction of protesters engaged in disruptive and violent behavior, catching police departments off guard. This resulted in challenges for law enforcement officers in distinguishing between lawful demonstrators and those inciting violence.
New York City's Response
Following the tumultuous events of 2020, New York City faced legal repercussions for its handling of protests. The city agreed to a settlement exceeding $13 million to resolve a class action lawsuit accusing the police department of employing unlawful tactics against demonstrators. The New York Attorney General's investigation revealed instances of excessive force, including the indiscriminate use of batons, pepper spray, and "kettling" against peaceful protesters.
Subsequently, an agreement was reached in 2022 between the Attorney General, civil liberties groups, and the NYPD to implement significant reforms in protest policing. The aim was to safeguard the public and press from excessive use of force, emphasizing the protection of First Amendment rights during demonstrations.
Recent Developments
In a recent incident at Columbia University and City College, the NYPD arrested approximately 300 protesters following the clearance of encampments and occupied buildings. Mayor Eric Adams defended the police response, stating that it was necessary to prevent disruptive and disorderly behavior while ensuring the safety of all individuals involved.
Among those arrested, a significant number were individuals unaffiliated with the educational institutions, highlighting the presence of external agitators in the protests. This observation was echoed by a Columbia spokesperson, emphasizing the need to address the involvement of outsiders in unlawful activities.
Source: CNN
The Role of Law Enforcement in Handling Protests on University Campuses
In a recent statement on a Friday, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry mentioned the discovery of various items such as hammers, knives, helmets, goggles, and tape, which he referred to as “tools of agitators.”
According to Straub, these outside agitators often escalate emotions and aggression to gain more publicity and media attention, potentially leading to dangerous situations.
Spencer Fomby, who developed a public order command class for the National Tactical Officers Association, emphasized the importance of law enforcement agencies establishing campus rules and differentiating between protected constitutional rights and prohibited behavior.
Fomby also highlighted the standard practice of informing protesters when their actions violate rules and exceed the boundaries of protected free speech.
Setting Clear Guidelines for Protests
While universities recognize the right to protest and free speech, Straub noted the importance of establishing clear ground rules with protesters to prevent demonstrations from spiraling out of control.
Straub emphasized the need for mutual agreement on guidelines for protests to ensure a peaceful and organized demonstration.
Handling Protest Encampments
Fomby mentioned varying approaches to dealing with protest encampments on campuses, with some institutions taking immediate action to prevent their establishment, while others, like Columbia University, faced challenges due to delayed police intervention.
At the University of Arizona, police in riot gear used pepper balls and rubber bullets to disperse protesters engaging in dangerous actions, highlighting the balance between allowing peaceful protests and maintaining public safety.
Police Intervention and Criticism
Straub discussed the criticism faced by police at Columbia University for using a military-grade truck to access a building during a protest. Despite the aggressive appearance, Straub defended the operation as a safer approach for both protesters and law enforcement.
The Complex Dynamics of Police Response to Protests
Law enforcement’s use of force during protests can often be misunderstood, as highlighted by expert opinions. According to Straub, what may appear as excessive power or aggression is sometimes the necessary approach for ensuring safety.
A police officer launches a smoke bomb on the UCLA campus during a raid on a pro-Palestinian encampment in Los Angeles.
Contrasting Approaches
Comparing the NYPD’s strategic tactics with the chaotic scene at UCLA, Fomby noted the stark differences in engagement styles. While the NYPD’s methodical approach involved surrounding the building and maintaining measured interactions with protesters, the UCLA confrontation was characterized by chaos and heightened violence.
Witnesses observed officers breaking down barriers and deploying flash-bang explosives to disperse protesters barricaded inside the encampment, illustrating the intensity of the situation.
Protecting Rights vs. Ensuring Order
Fomby emphasized that the events at UCLA did not occur spontaneously but were a culmination of tensions. While the First Amendment protects free speech and the right to express grievances, inciting violence or promoting ideologies through force crosses a line that law enforcement must address.
According to Fomby, restoring order often requires police intervention to halt criminal activities and maintain public safety in the face of escalating confrontations.
CNN’s Julia Jones, Maria Sole Campinoti, and Artemis Moshtaghian contributed to this report.
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No peace and quiet with online broker Flatexdegiro
Major shareholder Bernd Förtsch wants to be elected to the supervisory board at the general meeting on June 4th, as the company announced late on Friday evening. To this end, the GfBk Gesellschaft für Börsenkommunikation, which he controls, submitted a so-called supplementary request to the agenda.
He would replace Herbert Seuling, who announced on Friday that he was leaving the committee for personal reasons. Förtsch also wants to have the chairman of the supervisory board, Martin Korbmacher, removed. If successful, Axel Hörger should be elected to the committee. According to their information, this would be a member independent of GfBk, the statement continued.
Withdrawal on April 30th
Just last week, CEO Frank Niehage announced his retirement on April 30th. Förtsch had previously publicly denounced the manager’s work. Flatexdegiro justified the departure with “different views on strategic development” and the well-being of the company. The search for a successor is ongoing. For the time being, two board colleagues will manage the company.
Niehage has been in the crossfire of criticism for a long time. While trading by small investors on Flatexdegiro’s platforms climbed to unprecedented heights during the Corona pandemic, the business volume collapsed with the rise in inflation and interest rates as well as the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. In addition, the financial regulator Bafin found a number of deficiencies at the broker in a special audit in 2022 – and increased the company’s capital requirements.
Settled with corporate management
In March, major shareholder Förtsch settled accounts with company management in an interview. The decline in the share price and the low market value of around one billion euros were the result of an “operational, strategic and supervisory board error,” he told “Wirtschaftswoche”.
In the interview, Förtsch criticized Flatexdegiro’s lack of innovation, an understanding of the market and “products that are extremely attractive to customers”. Flatex’s previously simple fee structures are now just as opaque as those of competitors. The company missed the boom in cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. The competitor Swissquote was worth the equivalent of four billion euros on the stock exchange, about four times as much as Flatexdegiro, said Förtsch at the time. In addition, the Berlin broker Trade Republic, which is not listed on the stock exchange, is also valued at around four billion euros.
Since Flatexdegiro’s share price has risen sharply in recent weeks, partly due to good results in the first quarter, the gap has now narrowed again. Flatexdegiro is now worth 1.4 billion euros on the stock exchange again. However, that is still significantly less than in the summer of 2021, when it was more than three billion euros.
Förtsch is not only a major shareholder in Flatexdegiro, but also founded the company’s predecessor himself 25 years ago. He still directly and indirectly holds almost 20 percent of all company shares.
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