Over 200 students gathered outside the LBJ School of Public Affairs Tuesday for a “noise demonstration” to protest an event featuring former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Students and community members met at the LBJ Lawn at 6:30 p.m. for the protest, organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee. An estimated 20 law enforcement officers were present, including multiple state troopers who arrived about halfway through the demonstration. Protesters stood off with police for over an hour before protesters dispersed. There was no physical confrontation, and no arrests were made.
Media was not permitted inside the auditorium where the talk with Bennett, hosted by Texas Hillel and the Strauss Institute, took place.
“After a year of funding a murder of our people, silencing our voices and refusing to address the discrimination and hate crimes for Arab, Muslim and Palestinian students on campus, what does the University do?” student organizer Hadi, who asked to only be referred to by their first name, said to the crowd. “They disgrace our campus by bringing a genocidal war criminal to one of our buildings.”
Prior to the start of the protest, staff from the Office of the Dean of Students asked organizers not to use drums, cowbells and other amplified sound. As more demonstrators gathered, the staff directed the crowd away from the building and towards the LBJ lawn.
PSC organizers then directed attendees to stop using noise makers. Jenna, a PSC organizer who asked to only be referred to by her first name, said they made that decision to ensure they would be allowed to protest as long as possible.
Protesters repeatedly referenced a 2013 statement from Bennett in which he said, “I have killed lots of Arabs in my life, and there is no problem with that.”
Throughout the demonstration, protesters incrementally moved closer to the LBJ Library, where Bennett was speaking. At 7:30 p.m., University police officers set up a tape boundary that protesters stayed behind for the rest of the event. 10 minutes later, state troopers arrived.
State troopers parked two vehicles between protesters and the Library entrance at about 7:50 p.m, serving as another barricade. The protesters never approached the vehicles.
Shortly after Bennett concluded his remarks, protest organizers told the crowd to disperse. Event-goers left without any confrontation with the protesters.
Demonstrators left in groups, with some staying back to talk with one another and others continuing to shout at police and a small group of hecklers. By 8:30 p.m., demonstrators had mostly cleared the lawn.
