Following a pro-Palestine protest during a lecture by U.S. Congressman Derek Kilmer, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) faces a ban from operating on the University of Puget Sound (UPS) campus.

Charges and Controversy Surrounding the Protest

Krishna Agrawal and Lauren Garelick, student organizers of the protest, were charged with inciting violence after the incident, which occurred on February 21, 2024. The interruption of Rep. Kilmer’s lecture led to chaos, with over 100 students participating in the protest.

According to SDS, the charges against Agrawal and Garelick are deemed bogus, and the investigation conducted by Seattle law firm Davis Wright Tremaine is labeled as biased and racist. SDS alleges that the punishment handed down by the university, banning SDS from campus until 2026, is disproportionate and unjust.

Campus Turmoil and Consequences

The protest, which escalated to the point of the event’s cancellation and subsequent campus lockdown, resulted in injuries to students. The Trail, UPS’s student newspaper, reported on the chaotic scene, including disruptions and injuries suffered during the demonstration.

SDS, in response to the sanctions imposed by UPS, held a press conference outside Jones Hall to denounce the university’s actions and assert their right to peaceful protest and expression.

Conclusion: A Campus Divided

The fallout from the pro-Palestine protest at UPS highlights the complex intersection of free speech, political activism, and campus security. As the university grapples with the aftermath, questions of accountability and justice loom large.

[Sources: Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), The Trail (University of Puget Sound’s independent student newspaper), NEWS.ORG 13 Seattle News]

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