US university suspends pro-Palestinian student group over unauthorized demonstration

ISTANBUL

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has suspended a pro-Palestinian student group for staging an unauthorized demonstration.

MIT President Sally Kornbluth said in a video announcement that she was suspending the privileges of the Coalition Against Apartheid (CAA) as a recognized student organization on the campus.

Kornbluth said the CAA would not be able to benefit from funds allocated for student groups, use MIT facilities or organize demonstrations.

She stressed that the decision was not related to the content of the demonstration.

"I fully support the right of everyone on our campus to express their views. However, we have clear, reasonable “time, place and manner” policies in place – for a good reason."

The CAA responded, saying that Kornbluth unjustly penalized its members and that 13 of them faced threats of expulsion.

It also accused the university of "applying double standards for our actions."

"Their response today reveals that MIT fears the mass mobilization of our community, who have remained steadfast with Palestine," it said in a statement on Instagram.

The CAA called on "all people of conscience to stand alongside us and support our right to protest. We demand that MIT reinstate the Coalition Against Apartheid and retract the threats against student organizers."

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities in the US against Israel's attacks on Gaza have come under criticism from pro-Israeli factions, who accused some of fostering "anti-Jewish sentiments."

During a hearing titled "Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism" held on Dec. 5 last year by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, university presidents including Claudine Gay of Harvard University, Elizabeth Magill of the University of Pennsylvania and Sally Kornbluth of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were called on to testify about their approaches to incidents of antisemitism on university campuses.

The three of them spent hours answering questions about disciplinary actions against students regarding antisemitism, how universities represent diverse viewpoints and campus security.

Facing intense pressure due to their interpretation of pro-Israel protests as within the scope of freedom of expression, all three presidents were ultimately urged to resign.

Magill stepped down following the pressure.

Harvard University’s administration announced that Gay would remain in her position despite the pressures. However, she announced her resignation on Jan. 2, citing "personal controversies not impacting the university" to avoid damaging the institution.