The Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter in Austin (CAIR-Austin) today condemned UT Austin president Hartzell’s statement that mitigates and justifies the unnecessary arrests and violence against peaceful student protestors, supported the university Faculty in their no-confidence vote in Hartzell, and asked for PSC reinstatement.
In a statement, Fayyaz Shah, Board Chair of CAIR Austin, said:
“President Hartzell’s attempts to justify the violence he plotted against his students is problematic in many ways. This heavy use of force was based on the assumption that students were going to do illegal activities. This pre-emptive censorship sets a dangerous precedent in which administrators can essentially suppress any protests they disagree with without having to show evidence of harmful behavior.
The county attorney dropping charges against the arrested students is a further proof that President Hartzell’s pre-emptive censorship was wrong. President Hartzell’s calling in state troopers resulted in unprecedent violent attack on diverse student community of peaceful protesters violating their constitutional rights and raising serious concerns in Texas free-speech advocates.
While Mr. Hartzell is frequently referring to non-UT affiliated protesters, the law enforcement agencies arrested more than two dozen of UT students and the university is currently suspending Palestinian Solidarity Committee (PSC), a protest-leading student organization.”
“President Hartzell needs to know that abandoning his students and sending them to jail even for once is a failure and a trust breaker no matter how many times he granted them their rights in the past,” said Shaimaa Zayan, Operations Manager of CAIR Austin. “We also do not understand the stigma Mr. Hartzell is creating against the students’ coordination across the US campuses. Even if true, this is a well-known practice in civil right movements. There is no justification for that brutal exercise of power against peaceful students, their allies, and even journalists. We are so proud of the 230+ faculty members who joined the no-confidence vote in Mr. Hartzell and invite more to break the silence and join.”
“We will continue our call for divestment from death despite the repression we face, and demand accountability from our administration and president Hartzell for their gross abuse of power against their students,” said Ammer, a UT Austin student, who was arrested in Apr. 24, and an activist in PSC.
CAIR Austin stands in solidarity with all peaceful protesters regardless of their cause and affiliation. We urge authorities and university leaders to protect the freedom of speech and the right to assemble and protest peacefully.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: Shaimaa Zayan Operations Manager CAIR Austin,(512) 785-7105, [email protected]