Press Article: UCI Professor Arrested Amid Pro-Palestinian Protest Faces Charges, Sparks Nationwide Outrage
Irvine, CA – During a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of California, Irvine on May 15, 2024, riot police arrested 50 individuals, including Tiffany Willoughby-Herard, a tenured professor of global and international studies. A widely circulated video captured her impassioned plea for justice as she was led away with her hands zip-tied. "We cannot have a genocidal foreign policy in a democracy," she stated, highlighting the consequences of police actions on student scholarships.
Willoughby-Herard, along with 10 others, faces three misdemeanor charges, including "resisting arrest" and "failure to disperse." She criticized the excessive police presence and lack of leadership during the protest, noting that approximately $2.9 million was spent to suppress the demonstration. "The egregious response stemmed from bias against Palestine," she claimed.
Her charges have ignited a wave of support from thousands of academics, scholars, and students across the US and internationally, with petitions urging the charges against her to be dropped. Notably, over 3,200 individuals have been arrested during similar protests nationwide.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office stated that all arrested individuals were treated equally under the law. However, Willoughby-Herard’s situation has drawn attention to potential racial biases, as she is one of the few facing multiple charges among a predominantly white group of arrestees.
As Willoughby-Herard deals with physical injuries and harassment following her arrest, supporters argue that the criminalization of protest undermines free speech and activism. UC Irvine officials maintained a commitment to free expression while clarifying their lack of involvement in the legal proceedings against protesters. The backlash against the charges has continued to grow, raising questions about civil rights and the power of dissent within academic communities.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com