Charges Dropped Against University of Chicago Occupiers

The Chicago Maroon, the campus newspaper of the University of Chicago, is reporting that charges have been dropped against 26 students and two faculty members who took part in a sit-in in a university building on November 9. The sit-in had been organized by UChicago United for Palestine. The arrestees were charged with criminal trespass.

"The arrested protestors still face a lengthy legal process to have their records expunged and a litany of University disciplinary charges despite the charges being dropped. According to Youssef Hasweh, a fourth-year Palestinian student who was among the arrested and charged, the University required arrested protestors to attend disciplinary hearings during finals week."

There is mounting pressure around the country for foreign students who participate in these protests to have their student visas canceled and to be sent back to their home countries. Defenders of these students argue that it is a matter of free speech. On the other hand, I would argue that much of this protest is directed toward supporting Hamas-a US-desiganted terror organization. It is one thing to demonstrate for a cease-fire or to show concern for the civilians being killed in the Gaza fighting. It is something else to support Hamas or to call for Israel's (a US ally) destruction. Those who call for the death of Jews or violate the civil rights of Jewish students have clearly crossed the line in my view.

I hasten to add that many of the pro-Palestinian, pro-Hamas protesters are not foreign students. Some are US citizens, and not all are Muslims.  That said, we should not have to show tolerance toward foreign students who are supporting Hamas or engaging in anti-Semitic behavior on campus. Throw them out!