Academics are Not Above the Law

🇺🇸 Peaceful protests are legal, and visiting academics have the right to participate and even organize peaceful protests. The Palestinian student at Columbia University, however, broke numerous laws while organizing the demonstrations that were held on the Columbia University campus. Any protest that makes college students feel unsafe and threatened is not a peaceful protest. This student crossed the line by organizing the intimidation and harassment of Jewish students on the campus, and that is illegal. It is a crime to harass or intimidate anyone in the USA. He also organized the breaking and entering of university property, and the damage and destruction of university property. Furthermore, when the NYPD shut down the encampments on campus, they discovered that around 50% of the individuals demonstrating were not even university students, but thugs that the organizer invited onto the campus to intimidate the legitimate students despite not having the authority to do so. They had no right to be on campus and were trespassing on campus property. This kind of behavior is unacceptable and illegal.

When I travel to foreign lands, I obey the laws of the land, and I make sure to not offend the people living there. I also mind my manners by staying out of local politics. We expect all foreigners in the USA to be on their best behavior while they are visiting, studying, or working in the USA. They need to mind their manners and treat our citizens, their fellow students or colleagues, with respect.

We hope the courts set an example with this student, and make it clear to foreigners that we are not going to tolerate this kind of behavior. No one is above the law. They will be arrested, deported, and lose the privilege to study, work, or reside here if they break our laws while they are in the USA.

xo