Anarchists at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. have been calling for the beheadings of school administrators as part of their ongoing anti-Israel encampment. A video posted on social media showed demonstrators chanting for the use of a guillotine on GW President Ellen Granberg and other school administrators, with some specifically targeting Provost Christopher Alan Bracey. At least 35 people were arrested at GWU as a result of the protests. The demonstrators held a mock court hearing to decide the fate of the administrators, with calls for them to be sent to the gallows.
The incident occurred on May 3 and was recorded on an Instagram Live video, which has since resurfaced on social media. In the video, an encampment leader simulated a court hearing with a Bracey proxy sitting before them as a fake verdict was rendered. The mock court also issued verdicts for GWU’s board of trustees and the school’s president, with calls for them to be beheaded. The agitators caused chaos on campus throughout the night and resisted police officers when they arrived to restore order, prompting the use of pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
The encampment at GWU involved erecting tents, displaying Palestinian flags, and defacing a statue of former President George Washington with Palestinian iconography. They added “Free Palestine” stickers to the statue and placed an American flag labeled “Genocide Joe” with President Biden’s photo on it. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith were scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday to discuss the anti-Israel demonstration and safety concerns on the GWU campus. Rep. James Comer criticized D.C. leadership for not responding to the university’s requests for help with the increasingly combative protests.
Wednesday marked the 14th day of the encampment at George Washington University. The House Oversight Committee planned to hold a hearing to address the ongoing unlawful activity and antisemitism at the university. The hearing, titled “Oversight of D.C.’s Response to Unlawful Activity and Antisemitism,” was set to begin at 1 p.m. EST in the 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. Local leaders would be called upon to explain the steps being taken to ensure an end to the unlawful behavior occurring on the GWU campus and address concerns related to safety and security.
