Jill Stein Arrested Over Anti-Israel Protest At Columbia University
Green Party presidential contender Jill Stein recently became one of 100 individuals arrested at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
On April 27, 2024, Stein was arrested by authorities at Washington University after she alongside other members of her campaign joined an anti-Israel protest, leading the Green Party presidential hopeful to enter into a conflict with law enforcement.
Outrage over the university’s involvement in the ongoing Middle East war between Israel and Hamas, a terrorist organization, has prompted protests across the U.S., including among several Washington University students.
Stein’s campaign manager, Jason Call, reported that he and deputy campaign manager Kelly Merrill-Cayer, were taken into custody at the campus campsite.
“The demand from the encampment was specifically for the university to divest from Boeing, which manufactures munitions used in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza at their nearby St Charles facility,” Call told Fox News.
“The Stein campaign supports the demands of the students and their peaceful protest and assembly on campus. Student protest for peace and civil liberties has always represented the best part of our collective moral conscience. Solidarity,” Call added.
BREAKING: Jill Stein and her Campaign Manager and Deputy Campaign Manager, Jason Call and Kelly Merrill-Cayer, have been arrested at Washington University in St. Louis while supporting a protest against WashU’s ties to the war on Gaza.
Video from @KallieECox pic.twitter.com/rkUYC9b5Qx— Dr. Jill Stein🌻 (@DrJillStein) April 28, 2024
One America News (OAN) pointed out that Stein also participated in anti-Israel protests at Columbia University. Despite threats from the school, the protestors have taken over the campus and established an encampment.
Stein said that Columbia University’s endowment includes a stake in Microsoft, which supplies computers to the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), claiming the university is writing a “blank check” to finance the war in Gaza.
Stein’s arrest comes amid an increase in anti-Israel demonstrations and a rise in antisemitism worldwide.
In a statement, the university said that the actions of the anti-Israel protestors were done with ill intent.
“It quickly became clear through the words and actions of this group that they did not have good intentions on our campus and that this demonstration had the potential to get out of control and become dangerous,” the statement read.
The University of Southern California recently canceled on-stage graduations on its campus and has been closed to outside visitors. This comes after Columbia University saw over 100 arrests and the University of Texas saw dozens of arrests too.
Protests and demonstrations have also taken place at Yale University, Harvard University, the University of Minnesota, John Hopkins University and Arizona University,