Happening now in Texas - UT Austin - I'm now getting Kent State flashbacks.

[Nanjeanne]

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Now this I find frightening.

[GreenWave]

1. I F Stone imvestigated Kent State

https://archive.org/details/killingsatkentst0000ston

[sarisataka]

2. Do you know the rationale for the police moving in

it did not appear there was any encampment or anything other than people voicing their opinions.


I do have to note the "Texas Fight" sign in the background. The universe has a sense of irony.

[Nanjeanne]

4. From what I can google it wasn't an "encampment" but a protest. UT stated the protest wasn't sanctioned.

I've googled some news articles from local news. I don't think the crowd was more than around 200 people.

Hence my Kent State vibes - it's such an overreaction. And frightening.

I'm sure more information will come out as the evening progresses.

[sarisataka]

6. That is what it looks like

and as long as it is peaceful (as appears the case) even if a technical violation of some rule, sending in riot police is definitely an overreaction.

[LeftInTX]

19. They were setting up camp

Around 2 p.m., some protesters could be seen setting up tents on the South Mall in front of the UT Tower. Law enforcement began methodically corralling students away from the tower and removing tents. By just after 3 p.m., they had been pushed to the outskirts of the lawn.

The student-led Palestine Solidarity Committee advertised the event on Instagram on Tuesday, invoking similar demonstrations at campuses in New Jersey, New York and other states and calling on the university to cut financial ties with Israel. The group had said it planned to “take back our university” by “occupy(ing) the South Lawn,” prompting swift warnings from university administrators.

“Simply put, The University of Texas at Austin will not allow this campus to be ‘taken’ and protesters to derail our mission in ways that groups affiliated with your national organization have accomplished elsewhere,” wrote Dr. Aaron Voyles, executive director of student involvement, and Melissa Jones-Wommack, acting executive director of student conduct and academic integrity.https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/ut-austin-protest-palestine-19420618.php

Still it appears there are more cops than protesters and these cops are crazy aggressive. The reaction by LE is oversized. I'm sure Abbott has his hand in this.

[TBF]

5. They warned them yesterday that they weren't having this during the

last of classes & beginning of semester exams:

"School officials warned organizers on Tuesday against demonstrating on campus because organizers appeared to intend to “violate our policies and rules and disrupt our campus operations.” They said any protesters would be subject to discipline, including suspension, and people unaffiliated with the university would be asked to leave or face arrest."

There's an article in the Houston Chron that they are updating -
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/ut-austin-protest-palestine-19420618.php

eta -- It's not clear if the University called for back-up or if Abbott just sent them over. It is a public university so you'd think they wouldn't be able to ban protesting. They are saying it's disrupting to classes and preparation for exams, but I'm not sure if they can stop peaceful protests at a public university.

[ripcord]

7. I believe UT requires prior permission for events

[LeftInTX]

18. I don't think they require permission for simple protests. There are frequent protests on campus.

They pop up sporadically.

Around 2 p.m., some protesters could be seen setting up tents on the South Mall in front of the UT Tower. Law enforcement began methodically corralling students away from the tower and removing tents. By just after 3 p.m., they had been pushed to the outskirts of the lawn.

The student-led Palestine Solidarity Committee advertised the event on Instagram on Tuesday, invoking similar demonstrations at campuses in New Jersey, New York and other states and calling on the university to cut financial ties with Israel. The group had said it planned to “take back our university” by “occupy(ing) the South Lawn,” prompting swift warnings from university administrators.

“Simply put, The University of Texas at Austin will not allow this campus to be ‘taken’ and protesters to derail our mission in ways that groups affiliated with your national organization have accomplished elsewhere,” wrote Dr. Aaron Voyles, executive director of student involvement, and Melissa Jones-Wommack, acting executive director of student conduct and academic integrity.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/ut-austin-protest-palestine-19420618.php

[Big Blue Marble]

3. Frightening.

Peaceful protests are our Constitutional right.

[sanatanadharma]

14. Constitutional Rights are zip-code based in the current majestic american grand awakening error

In the era of now, depending upon neighborhood, one may be living 100 years apart from others' reality elsewhere.
Even Federal Government law is to be subservient to zip-code based ignor-rants (sic).
Or so the USSC watchers prognosticate.
And sick it is.

[Nanjeanne]

8. Another video from KXAN News Journalist

Link to tweet

?s=61&t=_R0eaN5XDTx3hnl2jyXBTA]

[hlthe2b]

9. With Greg Abbott, anything could happen. He's desperate to show his "toughness" & ruthlessness

to Trump who is reportedly strongly considering him for US-AG.

'May as well just put a Charles Whitman wannabe in the tower, because when Abbott et al manhood is in doubt, the result might well be the same.

[PufPuf23]

10. Buildings at Cal Poly Humboldt are occupied after two days of demonstrations.

Live in (and native to) Humboldt County but about 85 miles / two hour drive.

Have to degrees from Cal so have been paying attention to Berkeley.

Lots (pictures, videos, local comments) at these two links.

[UPDATE 11:30 A.M.: THREE ARRESTED YESTERDAY] FROM CAMPUS TO COURTHOUSE: PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS DEMAND RELEASE OF ACTIVISTS AFTER CLASHES AT CAL POLY HUMBOLDT
Tuesday, 23 April 2024, 4:20 am Kym Kemp

https://kymkemp.com/2024/04/23/from-campus-to-courthouse-pro-palestinian-protesters-demand-release-of-activists-after-clashes-at-cal-poly-humboldt/

[UPDATE 10:50 P.M.: LAW ENFORCEMENT LEAVING CAMPUS] PRO PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS OCCUPY SIEMENS HALL AT CAL POLY
Monday, 22 April 2024, 7:15 pm Kym Kemp

https://kymkemp.com/2024/04/22/pro-palestinian-protesters-occupy-siemens-hall-at-cal-poly/

[Chainfire]

11. Bring in the goon squad to deprive the kids of their right to peaceful protest.

[Texasgal]

12. Huge story right now in town

The traffic and backups have already started. My commute is going to be a mess.

[Prairie Gates]

48. There's traffic backed up in Austin Texas? Those bastards!

[Texasgal]

50. I know.. I know..

after I posted that I realized how flippant it sounded.

[walkingman]

13. More Cops than protesters - it's redneck Texas what do you expect.

UT says it requires a permit to have a large gathering....what they don't say is they are reluctant to give a permit for anything that is antithetical to what Gov. Abbott wants.

There is nothing more American that to peacefully protest - as a Texan I am sick of these backwards ass people running this state.

[Doc Sportello]

15. May be worse

As far as I know, no buildings have been burned or people shot at any protest. But the heat is getting turned up, so if there is violence by the government it could come regardless of the need for it or not. In the case of someone like Abbott it would be performative and done with joy.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

16. Texas DPS sent state troopers from Houston to Austin to handle the UT protest.

Link to tweet

[LeftInTX]

20. Oversized response.

Since the border is quiet, I'm sure some of these are recalled goons from Abbott's "Operation Lone Star"

[ShazzieB]

30. If they were coming from Houston, maybe not.

Since Houston's nowhere near the border.

[LeftInTX]

33. Abbott has all sorts of reserves in Austin. I doubt if anyone from Houston made it on time.

The event is pretty much over.

He has a "riot squad" to squash protesters at the capitol.
More troopers could already be in Austin because they aren't needed at the border right now.

[ShazzieB]

37. Doesn't surpriseme at all tyat he'd have plenty of reserves on hand in Austin.

I was replying to your comment about them being recalled from the border. But I see now that you didn't mean they were coming directly from the border.

[wnylib]

17. Here's an article from the Texas Tribune which gives

background on the protests at Austin.

According to the article. It was University administrators who called on local police to remove the protesters. The protest plan was to take over a lawn section as a sit in. But, since such sit ins have turned into encampments at other universities where students were harrassed, the UT Austin administrators decided to remove the students before they could settle in.

As might be expected, Abbott has stated his approval of using force to remove the students.

Apparently, they did not have required university approval for the protest, similar to how most communities require permits. Administrators said that the protests would cause disruption for students trying to prepare for final exams if protesters were allowed to settle in according to plan.

So, prevention of another Columbia type of demonstration from getting established? The organizers had already communicated their intention to occupy the lawn. Or overuse of authority? Administrators say that they were nipping it early to protect Jewish students from harassment that has become part of demonstrations on other campuses.


https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/24/ut-austin-israel-hamas-war-palestine-student-arrests/

[walkingman]

21. There actions will only make the situation worse - they also had protests

at University of Houston and Rice but I am quite sure that Abbott and his redneck lot will use this as a political charade for his rightwing assholes here in Texas.

There is nothing wrong with protesting anything in America, including Texas which is part of America (although they seem to think not) as long as it is peaceful. Austin is a liberal city and it just chaps their ass that they cannot force there redneck ideology on its citizens.

[LeftInTX]

23. DPS riot troops are all over Austin.

Not so much in the rest of Texas. (Except the border area)

[Always Blue]

22. Agreed

The justification was they wasn't students they were outside instigators.

[Hope22]

24. This will go poorly!

They look like men without a plan. I hope the protesters find their way out of there. Frightened men with guns equals chaos!

[EX500rider]

43. Somehow I doubt armed men in full riot gear were all that scared of the college kids

[Hope22]

46. You are welcome to your doubts

I saw something different as I reviewed the footage and will stand by my observation.

[LeftInTX]

25. The good news about this: It makes the protesters look good and the cops look bad.

[LymphocyteLover]

27. Yes. I do wonder if the GOP fuckers are trying to provoke broader violence with this

[WhiskeyGrinder]

26. A local FOX camera person has reportedly been arrested.

[Bucky]

36. without knowing anything about the protest or the arrest or the camera guy, my immediate reaction was...

Good

[WhiskeyGrinder]

38. Local FOX affiliates are a lot different than national.

And arresting the press is a shit look no matter who it is.

[LeftInTX]

44. Caught on camera

Link to tweet

I had the reporter's feed, but you couldn't tell what was going on.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

45. protecting and serving

[Bluethroughu]

28. Where was this response to the insurrectionists?

[ashredux]

29. Governor Abbott is "flexing his muscle". Nothing like beating up on students sitting on the mall.

[LeftInTX]

31. They arrested a cameraman with the local Fox affiliate.

Probably thought he some gonzo guy. However, his livestream is on Fox 7's YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5maSolHQX9er0BOxrzjMwA

Link to tweet

ETA: Caught on camera by a third party

Link to tweet

It's hard to see an actual arrest because if he is arrested at 2:35:40, (according to those on YouTube comment) he kept filming for quiet awhile afterward. Around 2:45 his camera is put away, but continues filming inside his backpack.

?t=9617

[Nanjeanne]

32. Oy. nt

[SARose]

34. Me too

Brings back memories.

[Bucky]

35. After the Columbia protests & crackdown... I'm getting major 1968 flashbacks.

We need to see progress on Gaza before the convention this summer or we'll be getting much more specific Chicago 1968 flashbacks.

That's not a trip we want to relive.

[jalan48]

39. +1

[Barry Markson]

42. I was 20 in 1968, I remember it well.

1967 RayGun took office in California on a promise to restore law and order and clean up the state's colleges, of course that only hardened our resolve.
After fall quarter I dropped out of the University of Mn to join the "movement".
A group of us headed East to work for Mn Native son Eugene McCarthy in his bid to unseat the hated LBJ.
Come Clean for Gene. Shave, haircut and sorta nice Goodwill Store clothes.

LBJ drops out, MLK shot, RFK shot and protests continued unabated.

At the end of spring and summer we headed to the conventions.

1st week of August Miami Beach for the Nixon coronation. They closed the causeways and bridges and we couldn't get close. Nixon walked away spewing "Law and Order".

End of August Chicago. Major Daley promising "not in my town you don't". A police riot ensues on national tv and Humphrey makes his acceptance speech at 4 in the morning with the cameras focused on the street action and smell of teargas.

Nixon walked into the Whitehouse losing only MN and DC.

I get the same vibe.

[LeftInTX]

49. I'm glad the convention isn't in Texas! Can you imagine what Abbott would do??

[SARose]

55. Oh Lord have mercy

[flashman13]

40. WTF is this all about? These Palestine/Israel protests are the biggest thing since the Vietnam anti war movement.

This is a good way to spread protests across more campuses.

Abbott is definitely a fascist. He would get off on shooting a few of those libtard students. He is dangerous.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

41. I don't see firearms or guard troops

That's what was at Kent State.

I see riot police instead. I hope things don't get out of hand.

[TomSlick]

47. No firearms is good. Redneck Texas cops with long batons is not good.

With some luck, no students will be killed - just crippled.

[progressoid]

53. They didn't carry long guns but they were armed.

You can see sidearms on the officers.

[tirebiter]

51. Civil disobedience includes getting arrested.

The police seem to know how they’re supposed to do this. National Guard doesn’t. Without Nixon or in this case Trump as president it’s definitely not Kent. Besides David Crosby is dead.

[angrychair]

52. See civil lawsuits

Protest is a sacred right in the US. No Justice. No Peace.

[ck4829]

54. Huh, they're a lot bolder when it's not some guy with an AR-15 shooting kids

[TBF]

56. IKR, they couldn't be bothered to get out of their chairs in Uvalde. nt