Emory university erupts: Police arrest professors amid anti-Israel protests

Emory university erupts: Police arrest professors amid anti-Israel protests

NEW DELHI: At Emory University in Atlanta, a protest against Israel escalated into a violent confrontation with law enforcement, resulting in the arrest of dozens, including two professors. The incident, captured on video and widely shared online, showed police officers clashing with protesters who had set up an impromptu tent city on campus early Thursday morning.

The footage, filmed by CNN, depicts a chaotic scene as police moved to dismantle the encampment. Among those arrested was Caroline Fohlin, an economics professor at Emory, who appeared shocked just moments before being forcibly taken to the ground and handcuffed by an Atlanta police officer. As she was restrained, Fohlin screamed, “Oh my god!” and identified herself as a professor, which did little to mitigate the situation.

Another faculty member, Noelle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department, was also detained during the mass arrest operation. A video shows McAfee being led away by an officer while her arms are held behind her back.

The arrests drew sharp criticism from the demonstrators, with one protester yelling at the police, “You are Hitler! You are rabid dogs! You are fascists! Shame on you!”

In total, 28 individuals were arrested at the protests, a New York Post report said. Emory’s President Gregory L Fenves responded to the events with a statement, expressing his distress over the actions of “highly organized outside protesters” and the impact of the protest on the university community. He noted the disruption caused by the protesters who had previously vandalized the campus and expressed his horror at the arrests of community members.

The Emory incident is part of a broader wave of anti-Israel protests at universities across the United States, from Massachusetts to California. Over 500 arrests have been reported nationwide, with significant numbers at NYU, Columbia University, Yale, the University of Southern California, The Ohio State University, and Indiana University Bloomington.

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