Latino Civil Rights Organization: Violent Police Response to Peaceful Protesters at University of Texas “Normalizes Militarized Repression”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 26, 2024
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Latino Civil Rights Organization: Violent Police Response to Peaceful Protesters at University of Texas “Normalizes Militarized Repression”
LatinoJustice PRLDEF Condemns Police Crackdown at Pro-Palestine Protests at University of Texas, Austin, and Other Campuses Around the Country
Austin, Texas – After Jay Hartzell, President of the University of Texas, backed by Governor Greg Abbott, on Wednesday deployed state troopers and police officers from Texas Department of Public Safety, in addition to university police, against Pro Palestinian students and teachers, resulting in violent mass arrests of scores of protesters, LatinoJustice PRLDEF issued a statement condemning these actions.
The following statement can be attributed to Lourdes M. Rosado, President and General Counsel at LatinoJustice PRLDEF:
“The excessive, violent response to lawful and peaceful protesters from the UT Austin community, authorized by the President of the University of Texas, and endorsed by local and state officials, represents an unacceptable step toward normalizing militarized repression of constitutionally held rights.
“The aggressive actions of the Department of Public Safety officers escalated an already tense situation, and the release of almost all those arrested reinforces the disproportionate nature of the law enforcement response. It’s telling that when police were absent at protests with bigger crowds the next day, no incidents were reported.
“For his part, Gov. Abbott seems eager to extend his reflexive and unlawful use of militarized forces against Texas residents, as he has done with Operation Lone Star, and uses his executive power to stifle speech he doesn’t like by people he doesn’t like, as he has done with a requirement that public universities revise free speech policies, singling out Palestine Solidarity Committee, which organized Wednesday’s protest.
“LatinoJustice commits to defend the rights of students and their supporters as they are subjected to unjust forceful attacks and threats of expulsion and arrest for exercising their right to peaceful protest, in Austin, in New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta and elsewhere.”
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About LatinoJustice
LatinoJustice PRLDEF works to create a more just society by using and challenging the rule of law to secure transformative, equitable and accessible justice, by empowering our community and by fostering leadership through advocacy and education. For over 50 years, LatinoJustice PRLDEF has acted as an advocate against injustices throughout the country. To learn more about LatinoJustice, visit www.LatinoJustice.org