After an anti-Israel protest, UT Austin temporarily suspends its Pro-Palestinian student organization.

Several days after the arrest of over 30 individuals during an anti-Israel demonstration on campus, the suspension was announced.

After an anti-Israel protest, UT Austin temporarily suspends its Pro-Palestinian student organization.
After an anti-Israel protest, UT Austin temporarily suspends its Pro-Palestinian student organization.

On Friday, a Pro-Palestinian student group at the University of Texas at Austin announced that it was put on interim suspension after several students were arrested earlier in the week.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) posted on Instagram on Friday that the university had suspended the organization, claiming that the school has frequently altered its protest policies and remained unclear about these changes since the on-campus protests began.

"The suspension of the Palestine Solidarity Committee by UT is an attack on free speech that diverts attention from Israel's genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people. Meanwhile, Palestinians continue to live in a state of emergency that UT refuses to acknowledge, while Jay Hartzell and Greg Abbott authorized Texas State Troopers, Austin Police, and UT police to violently attack and arrest protesters on campus."

PSC was reportedly notified of the suspension Thursday, according to CBS Austin.

Officer on horseback confronts protestors
The Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) shared on their Instagram Friday that the university had suspended the organization, alleging the school "has repeatedly changed protest policies and been deliberately vague about these changes" since the on-campus protests began.  (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The interim suspension of PSC was due to alleged violations of institutional rules related to student conduct and integrity. As a result, the organization will not be able to host on-campus events, reserve rooms, or collaborate with faculty, according to CBS Austin.

Planet Chronicle Digital reached out to PSC and the university for additional comment.

Several days after more than 30 people were arrested on UT Austin's campus during an anti-Israel protest on Wednesday, the suspension was announced.

Some officers on horseback monitored the protests while the APD and DPS made arrests.

Student speaks to crowd of students at the University of Texas at Austin.
DPS told Planet Chronicle Digital the arrests were made "in order to prevent any unlawful assembly and to support UT Police in maintaining the peace by arresting anyone engaging in any sort of criminal activity, including criminal trespass." (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

The group was heard chanting "APD, KKK, IDF / they're all the same" and "Pigs go home!" to officers at the scene. DPS made arrests to prevent unlawful assembly and support UT Police in maintaining peace by arresting anyone engaging in criminal activity, including criminal trespass.

On the same day, UT Austin President Jay Hartzell issued a statement defending the university's decision to close down the protest.

"He acknowledged the "emotion surrounding these events" and emphasized that "our rules will be enforced.""

Pro-Palestine students gather on quad at the University of Texas at Austin.
UT Austin President Jay Hartzell released a statement that same day defending the university's decision to shut down the protest.  (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

""Many have found this day challenging, as we have witnessed increased activity on campus and experienced a range of emotions related to these events," Hartzell stated to the UT-Austin community."

This report was contributed to by Planet Chronicle' Andrea Vacchiano, Bryan Preston, and Lawrence Richard.

by Haley Chi-Sing

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