UGA Campus Protests Generate Arrests, More Gatherings Planned

ATHENS, GA — University of Georgia officials are speaking out after five protests were held at the campus this week, with one of them resulting in 16 arrests.

Several more registered protests are expected in coming days, UGA officials said in a news release Thursday.

The first event held Monday on the North Campus Quad protested the war in Gaza and served the purpose of uniting with residents in Palestine, according to an Instagram post from the Students for Justice in Palestine at UGA.

It was deemed a Gaza solidarity encampment, the group said, which acknowledged campus officials requested a dispersement of the protest.

The protest is one of several nationwide protesting the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, which began on Oct. 7, 2023. On and off cease-fire negotiations were set to continue Thursday, when a Hamas delegation was scheduled to head to Egypt, the Associated Press reported.

The war started nearly seven months ago and has killed at least 34,000 Palestinians, the Associated Press reported.

Monday's protest at UGA was the only event to lead to arrests, UGA officials said. The university maintained the protest violated its Freedom of Expression policy and claimed those who protested did not adhere to repetitive warnings to comply with the policies or disperse.

"Members of this group have held numerous registered events on our campus this academic year and were very familiar with applicable policies. Just last week, they had spoken by phone with the associate dean of students, who specifically reminded them of applicable policies and the need for a reservation for any events," UGA officials said.

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Without a reservation, officials accused about 25 protesters of entering the quad around 6:30 a.m. to set up tents, camping supplies and wooden shields.

Officials accused the protesters of creating a barricade that blocked sidewalks and building entrances and of putting signs on campus structures.

The protesters were accused of using "amplified sound" near academic buildings.

"These activities, including creation of an encampment, clearly violated multiple provisions of the University’s Freedom of Expression policy, which has not permitted encampments on campus since the early 1990s. And the protesters knew it," UGA officials said.

The protesters were given the option to either remove their setup and complete a reservation form or relocate their tents and supplies to the Memorial Plaza with no needed reservation, UGA officials said. They were accused of declining both options.

The protesters were accused of ignoring warnings to disperse from UGA Police.

"Rather than comply, the protesters locked arms, continued to shout profanities and chose to be arrested," UGA officials said.

Officers arrested 16 people, including nine UGA students, at the "unauthorized event," UGA officials said. Students for Justice in Palestine was issued an interim suspension, officials said.

"All of this is regrettable. But these individuals planned their event in advance. They refused to make a required reservation. They chose to create an unauthorized encampment, knowing it was prohibited, and violated multiple other policy provisions. And they declined to accept alternatives offered by the university to conduct their protest in accordance with university policy," UGA officials said.

"Make no mistake: These individuals chose to be arrested, and they chose to resist arrest. They are all adults, and they consciously made these unfortunate decisions. But actions have consequences. We commend the dedicated members of our Student Affairs Division and the university police, who patiently and tirelessly facilitate freedom of expression events on our campus. At the University of Georgia, we have chosen a path that affirms our unwavering commitment to free expression but recognizes that such activities must comply with applicable laws and policies."