As Gov. Glenn Youngkin backed law enforcement officers who broke up protest encampments on Virginia college campuses, a number of Virginia Democrats asserted Tuesday that officers have gone too far.
Some other officials, in both parties, emphasized the right to peacefully protest but said universities cannot allow demonstrators to disrupt campuses and intimidate students.
Youngkin, who is on a trade mission to Europe, weighed in on X after 1 a.m. eastern time Tuesday. That was hours after police in riot gear clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.
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“After repeated warnings and refusal to disperse, law enforcement must protect Virginians,” Youngkin said. “My administration will continue to fully support campus, local and state law enforcement and university leadership to keep our campuses safe,” Youngkin posted on X.
On Monday night a number of recently elected Democratic members of the House and Senate released statements criticizing the moves by police.
Del. Rae Cousins, D-Richmond, posted: “Excessive force towards students who are protesting non-violently is unacceptable. The right to assemble peacefully is a hallmark of our democracy, which we must protect.”
Four other Democratic lawmakers, Dels. Rozia Henson Jr., D-Prince William, Joshua Cole, D-Stafford, Adele McClure, D-Arlington, and Sen. Saddam Azlan Salim, D-Fairfax, issued a joint statement that criticized “campus crackdowns on student protests urging peace.”
Cole issued another statement Tuesday, in which he called for “an immediate end to the suppression of peaceful, non-violent protests.” He urged Youngkin and the Virginia State Police “to respect the rights of citizens to express dissent without fear of arrest or persecution.”
Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield, who filed papers this week to run for lieutenant governor next year, said in a statement: “Our academic institutions have a long legacy of cultivating freedom of thought and expression. This legacy cannot and must not be overturned in efforts to suppress student voices.”
Gilbert faults Democrats
House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah, criticized Democrats who backed demonstrators who clashed with police at VCU.
“I was disappointed, but not surprised, to see some Democratic legislators endorse these anti-Semitic agitators,” Gilbert posted on X. “Barricades and assaults on police are not merely innocent, non-violent protests, and ‘from the river to the sea’ messages demonstrate hateful and genocidal intentions.”
Attorney General Jason Miyares, at an event Tuesday in Danville, said the First Amendment is “one of the bedrock principles of this country,” but he issued a stark warning to campus protesters in Virginia who commit acts of violence, occupy academic buildings or threaten Jewish students.
“If you cross that line ... if you commit acts of violence, if you are so foolish to think you can occupy an academic building in Virginia, if you’re so foolish to do what you’re seeing around the country and directly threaten our Jewish students or side with those that want to publicly exterminate our Jewish brethren and citizens, then there will be consequences, there will be action,” Miyares said.
He also had strong words for any demonstrators who assaulted police officers Monday during protests at VCU.
“To those perpetrators, we will use every resource we have to track you down,” Miyares said. “We will find you, we will prosecute you. That is indeed a felony. There will be consequences for your actions.”
Kaine and Warner
Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Mark Warner, D-Va., speaking with reporters on separate Zoom calls Tuesday, said students have a right to protest, but not to impede or intimidate students.
Kaine said universities have an obligation to protect students from feeling “harassed or intimidated”- especially by antisemitic comments aimed at Jewish students.
But he said, “We’re a First Amendment society where people have a right to say things I disagree with.”
Kaine sought to distinguish “between dialogue that can make you feel uncomfortable and disruption.”
“Students need to feel safe, not harassed or intimidated,” he said.
Kaine generally expressed confidence in the ability of campus police to handle protests appropriately, but he questioned why the protests at VCU occurred next to buildings where students are taking their final exams, instead of Monroe Park, which is nearby.
He acknowledged the “heartbreaking situation” in Gaza, the need for a ceasefire and release of hostages held by Hamas, a big increase in humanitarian air and discussion of “a future for Palestine.”
But Kaine said, “Students who are trying to take exams and get an education should not be intimidated or harassed.”
Warner said he hopes for a cease-fire and a hostage deal with Hamas that would reunite Israelis held captive and their families. He said such a deal also would lower tensions.
“We have to acknowledge there is enormous pain and anguish on a lot of these campuses,” Warner said. But “there is no place on American campuses for antisemitism or anti-Islamic rhetoric or beliefs.”
Warner said he believes universities have a responsibility to make sure the peaceful right to protest continues. But he said, “when laws are broken the law must be enforced.”
Videos: Watch as police arrive at VCU campus amid protests Monday night
Hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters gathered on the lawn outside the James Branch Cabell Library on VCU’s Monroe Park campus on Monday, pitch…
Police make arrests at VCU campus on Monday.
Police, protesters clash at VCU on Monday.
Police arrive at VCU student protest of Hamas-Israel war by Cabel Library on April 29, 2024
VCU student Sereen Haddad speaks about a pro-Palestine demonstration at VCU, Monday, April 29, 2024.