Dozens of anti-Israel protesters were arrested at Emory University in a violent clash with police, during which at least one professor was seen being wrestled to the ground and handcuffed in a viral video. The chaos unfolded on the Atlanta campus as officers moved in on the impromptu tent city erected by demonstrators. The crowd reacted with screams as the officers arrested protesters, including Emory economics professor Caroline Fohlin who was seen being grabbed by an officer and ordered to the ground before being arrested.
In the video, Fohlin can be heard screaming “Oh my god!” as she is wrestled to the ground and handcuffed by the officers, while identifying herself as a professor. The protesters shouted insults at the cops during the incident, calling them “Hitler,” “rabid dogs,” and “fascists.” A total of 28 people were taken into custody during the arrests, which were disavowed by university president Gregory L. Fenves. He specifically blamed the “highly organized outside protesters” for the violence and disruptions on campus.
Following the arrests, Fenves issued a statement to the Emory community expressing his sadness and horror at the events that took place on campus. He condemned the actions of the outside protesters who arrived in vans, constructed an encampment, and overtook the Quad after it was previously vandalized with hateful messages. The video footage of the arrests was described as shocking, and Fenves expressed his serious concern about members of the Emory community being arrested during the incident.
Another video showed a woman, identified as Noelle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department at Emory, being led away in handcuffs by an Atlanta cop in tactical gear. McAfee’s arrest was part of a larger pattern of anti-Israel protests on university campuses across the United States. Over 500 protesters have been arrested in recent days at various campuses, with the majority of arrests occurring at NYU and Columbia. Additional arrests were made at the University of Southern California, The Ohio State University, Indiana University Bloomington, and Emory.
The mass arrests at Emory University were part of a broader trend of anti-Israel protests disrupting university campuses across the country. The clashes between protesters and police have resulted in numerous arrests, including those of professors and other members of the university community. These incidents have sparked controversy and condemnation from university officials, who have expressed concern about the impact of these protests on campus climate and safety.
The videos of the arrests at Emory University have gone viral on social media, drawing attention to the heated confrontations between anti-Israel protesters and law enforcement. The scenes of chaos and violence have led to discussions about the appropriate response to protests on college campuses and the role of free speech in shaping campus debates. As tensions continue to rise in the wake of these events, universities are grappling with how to address the conflicts while upholding principles of academic freedom and peaceful activism.
