At Emory University, a significant and contentious event unfolded that reflects broader societal tensions and the roles universities play in political and social activism. On a seemingly ordinary Thursday morning, just before 10 am, history professor Clifton Crais was approached by distressed students while walking to his class at the Emory University campus in Decatur, Georgia. The students were protesting the university’s financial ties with Israel and the construction of a controversial $109 million police training facility, derogatively nicknamed “Cop City.”
The protesters, who had set up camp on the expansive, football field-sized grassy quad early in the morning, urgently requested Crais to plead with Emory University President Gregory Fenves not to involve the police. Their plea was strategic; Crais had been involved over the past year in drafting a policy governing the circumstances under which police could be brought onto campus – specifically, only if there was a threat of bodily harm or property destruction.
In a swift and decisive action, Crais sent an urgent email to President Fenves, Enku Gelaye, the dean of campus life, and Ravi Bellamkonda, the provost, expressing his hope that the Atlanta police would not be summoned. Despite his efforts, the response from law enforcement was immediate and overwhelming. Within minutes, dozens of Atlanta police officers and Georgia state troopers descended on the scene, leading to the arrest of 28 individuals, including three faculty members and numerous students from Emory and other local colleges.
This incident at Emory University is possibly the fastest police mobilization seen in recent weeks among the nationwide divestment protests, marked by a rare use of pepper balls, stun guns, and rubber bullets against members of a university community. This harsh police action is particularly notable as it represents one of the few such protests in the southern United States.
The event was also peculiarly underscored by a provocative remark from Georgia State Representative Mike Collins, who expressed a stark contrast in handling protests compared to practices “up north,” noting the aggressive readiness to use tasers.
This incident raises important questions about the balance between safety and the right to protest, the role of academic institutions in social justice movements, and the implications of university policies on police involvement. As educational institutions find themselves at the crossroads of education, activism, and community relations, the Emory University episode serves as a critical case study of the dynamics between student activism, academic governance, and law enforcement.
