Anarchists at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. have called for the beheading of school administrators during their anti-Israel encampment. Protesters on campus chanted for the use of a guillotine on GW President Ellen Granberg and other administrators, with specific targeting of African American provost Christopher Alan Bracey. At least 35 people were arrested as demonstrators held a mock court hearing to determine the fate of the administrators. The chaos continued throughout the night, with the protesters defacing a statue of George Washington with Palestinian iconography and erecting an American flag with the words “Genocide Joe,” referring to President Biden.
The protesters resisted police officers who were eventually called to restore order, leading to the use of pepper spray to disperse the crowd. The encampment, which included tents and Palestinian flags, had been ongoing for several days prior to the escalation of violence. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith were expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee to discuss the anti-Israel demonstration and safety concerns on the GWU campus. Rep. James Comer criticized D.C. leadership for not responding to the university’s request for assistance in handling the increasingly combative protests.
The House Oversight Committee announced a hearing to seek answers from local leaders on steps being taken to end the unlawful activity on campus. The hearing, titled “Oversight of D.C.’s Response to Unlawful Activity and Antisemitism,” was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EST. The protesters continued their defiance, leading to tensions escalating as the encampment entered its 14th day. The situation at George Washington University grew more chaotic as the anarchists made new demands and called for the beheading of additional administrators.
The encampment leaders held a mock court hearing to determine the fate of GWU’s board of trustees and the school’s president, escalating calls for their beheading. The protesters caused disruptions throughout the campus, including defacing the George Washington statue with Palestinian iconography. The anti-Israel demonstrators also displayed an American flag with derogatory language referencing President Biden. The situation at GWU attracted national attention, leading to calls for accountability from local leaders in response to the unlawful activities on campus.
The DC police arrested dozens of protesters as the situation continued to escalate. The encampment remained in place despite attempts by law enforcement to disperse the crowd and restore order. The House Oversight Committee’s hearing aimed to address concerns about the safety of the campus community and the need to address the growing threat of anti-Israel sentiment among protesters. The ongoing protests highlighted the challenges faced by universities in addressing contentious issues while upholding free speech and maintaining a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. The incident at George Washington University underscored the need for effective communication and collaboration between university officials, local law enforcement, and government authorities to address such situations promptly and decisively.
