Staff Reports
Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Party’s Presidential candidate, made headlines once again, this time for getting arrested at an anti-Israel protest at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Along with her campaign managers, Jason Call and Kelly Merrill-Cayer, Stein was among more than 100 individuals who were taken into custody during the student-led demonstration against the university’s ties to the war on Gaza.
Videos and reports from the scene showed a tumultuous scene as police officers confronted protesters, using a bicycle as a barricade and leading Stein away. The arrest came shortly after Stein recorded a video expressing support for the students standing up for democracy and human rights, calling to end what she referred to as genocide in Gaza.
BREAKING: Jill Stein and her Campaign Manager and Deputy Campaign Manager, Jason Call and Kelly Merrill-Cayer, have been arrested at Washington University in St. Louis while supporting a protest against WashU’s ties to the war on Gaza.
Video from @KallieECox pic.twitter.com/rkUYC9b5Qx— Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) April 28, 2024
The protest’s focus was on demanding that the university divest from Boeing, a company that produces munitions used in conflicts in Gaza. Stein’s campaign managers emphasized their support for the students’ peaceful assembly and cause, highlighting the importance of student protests for peace and civil liberties.
Jill sent this video shortly before the police started arresting students and supporters at Washington University: pic.twitter.com/A1nUfDRUs9
— Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) April 28, 2024
Similar demonstrations and arrests have been occurring at campuses across the country, with universities like the University of Texas at Austin and George Washington University dealing with their protests and suspensions. The wave of anti-Israel protests was also seen at Columbia University in New York City, which even canceled in-person classes following the arrest of over 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The nationwide protests have sparked debates and discussions about the Israel-Palestine conflict and the role of universities in such matters. Students and activists continue to take to the streets to make their voices heard, even if some participants seem unsure of the specific reasons behind their actions, as seen in a viral video from NYU.
