Several protesters were arrested by the police on Emory University’s campus.
NewsChopper 2 soared above the scene, capturing a significant police presence on a Thursday morning. Tom Regan from Channel 2 observed a multitude of Atlanta police officers, Emory campus police officers, and Georgia State Patrol troopers swiftly responding to the ongoing protests.
The Georgia Department of Public Safety issued a statement on Thursday evening, stating that at 8:30 a.m., both the Emory Police Department and Atlanta Police Department sought the support of DPS in managing a protest at Emory University.
Georgia State Troopers and Motor Carrier Officers were dispatched to disperse the protest, but they encountered a group of demonstrators who not only hurled bottles but also adamantly refused to vacate the premises.
According to Vice President for Public Safety Cheryl Elliott, a total of 28 individuals were taken into custody during the incident, with 20 of them being affiliated with Emory University.
It is uncertain whether they are facing charges, as the DPS stated that all charges are being issued by the Emory Police Department.
According to reports, it has been mentioned that some of the community members who were detained have already been released. The university is actively collaborating with the authorities to ensure the swift release of the remaining individuals who are still in custody.
Protests have erupted at various universities in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Over the past week, multiple groups have established encampments in response to the arrest of more than 100 protesters at Columbia University.
The students participating in these protests are demanding that universities distance themselves from companies that support Israel’s military actions in Gaza, and in some cases, even from Israel itself.
During the arrest, Georgia State Patrol reported that one of the protestors showed resistance towards the troopers and officers.
After successfully handcuffing one of his hands, he resorted to shoving his other hand underneath his body to prevent it from being restrained. However, law enforcement officers were able to subdue him by using a taser on two occasions. The first taser deployment targeted his abdomen, while the second one was aimed at his right thigh. These actions ultimately led to his arrest.
Troopers used pepper balls to control the unruly crowd during the protest response, but tear gas was not employed.
Emory University issued a comprehensive statement that read,
I’m writing to share further information about the events that took place on our Atlanta campus earlier today and the actions taken by the Emory Police Department (EPD). At 7:41 a.m. a few dozen protestors arrived on campus. When they arrived, these individuals ignored and pushed past EPD officers stationed on the Quad and set up tents in an area where equipment and materials were staged for Commencement. Based on their actions and refusal to confirm their connection to Emory, EPD made the assessment that these individuals were not Emory community members. Officers with the Atlanta Police Department and Georgia State Patrol were then called to provide further assistance. Around this time, several social media accounts announced a protest and occupation of the Quad and issued a public call for non-Emory community members to join them. EPD issued multiple warnings at different intervals advising individuals in the encampment that they were trespassing on private property and instructing them to leave. When those requests were ignored, Atlanta Police and Georgia State Patrol officers assisted EPD with dispersing the crowd and taking individuals into custody for criminal trespass. During this process and the subsequent confrontations, objects were thrown at police officers. To our knowledge at this time, an individual attacked a non-EPD officer and appears to have been tased. Video of this incident has been widely shared on social media. Based on current information, this individual is not a member of the Emory community. Due to the direct assault of officers, law enforcement released chemical irritants into the ground to assist with crowd control. As of this message, we have been notified that 28 individuals have been arrested, including 20 Emory community members, some of whom have been released. We are working with responding agencies to expedite the release of any Emory community members who remain in custody. Our primary goal today was clearing the Quad of a disruptive encampment while holding individuals accountable to the law. Cheryl Elliott, Emory University Vice President for Public Safety
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