4/25/24

Dear President Gregory Fenves, Provost Ravi Bellamkonda, Deans Badia Ahad, Mary Anne Bobinsiki, M. Daniele Fallin, Enku Gelaye, Kimberly Jacob Arriola, Gareth James, Barbara Krauthamer, Jan Love, Linda Mccauley, and Sandra Wong; all other members of Emory University’s administration, and the Board of Trustees:

We are appalled at the oppression and brutalization of protesters on Emory University’s campus this morning. Emory's excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators today aligns with its long history, alongside other peer schools, of repressing minority-led on-campus protected speech and demonstration. Emory joins schools around the nation in a shameful attempt to silence student protests.

This morning, a group of Emory students, faculty, and outside community members chose to set up a “Solidarity Encampment'' to show support for an end to the current Israeli-Palestinian Conflict and for Emory to divest from Israel. Emory’s Open Expression Policy gives students the right to protest against issues on our campus. These protestors were peacefully protesting, without harming or disturbing other students.

In response to this action, your administration made the choice to call the Emory Police Department (EPD) to disperse the protest. EPD in turn decided to use excessive force on Emory students and faculty. At around 10 am this morning, Emory brought the Atlanta Police Department (APD), Georgia State Patrol (GSP), and EPD on campus to violently disrupt the protest. One officer sprayed tear gas at students. One officer used a taser on a student over three times while two other officers kneeled on his back, while he was also handcuffed and restrained. Students’ personal belongings were taken from them with no indication of return. Many students were left injured and hurt due to the excessive force and tear gas used. In collaboration with the forces of police repression, EPD and the affiliated Police on campus arrested at least 17 Emory students and faculty for “trespassing” on their own campus. In addition, individuals around the encampment were also harmed and threatened by the Police.

We unilaterally condemn the Emory Administration's use of excessive force and the perpetuation of police brutality against students. Unleashing violent police officers to clear a peaceful student encampment has done more to escalate the situation than any protest ever could—especially since those arrested were disproportionately people of color. We directly call on the administration to hold those APD, EPD, and any other individuals/groups that were responsible for the violence accountable. Additionally, both EPD and Greg Fenves refused to give adequate details of the situation occurring. The Emory emergency system only stated “Police Activity on the Atlanta Quad,” while Greg Fenves’s email did not accurately convey what transpired on the quad, intentionally leaving out the narrative of what occurred. In addition, Emory has claimed that the individuals involved with the protest were “outside agitators.'' This is false, as most of the individuals arrested were students and faculty of the university. This lack of transparency can create uncertainty among students.

Emory used a similar threat of force last spring against Cop City Protesters. This only means that without proper changes, a similar situation will happen again. In line with Emory University’s own policies, we have a right as Emory campus residents and students to protest.

We, as leaders on campus of our respective student organizations, demand that Emory immediately:

1. Release all protestors being held on-campus or at DeKalb County Jail and refuse to press charges against the students/faculty arrested today.
2. Order APD, GSU, GSP, and other police agencies, including SWAT units, off campus, for the protection and safety of students.
3. Grant amnesty to arrested student protestors, including security of housing, course enrollment, financial aid and scholarship, and permission to graduate.

Emory is doubling down on its dangerous path of student repression. Students should have their rights, including their rights to free speech and due process, protected. The signatory organizations have a diverse set of viewpoints on the issues that face our communities, but we stand united in calling on you to swiftly change course—to build an Emory where students truly feel safe.

Sincerely:

BBA Council