Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was arrested on Saturday at a pro-Palestinian protest held at Washington University in St. Louis. At this time, there are no known charges against her, as confirmed by her campaign spokesperson.
Stein was present at the protest to show her support for students who had established an encampment and were demanding that Washington University divest from Boeing and boycott Israeli academic institutions, among other requests. In a video captured before her arrest and shared online, Stein expressed her solidarity with the students and their constitutional right to free speech.
In her statement, Stein emphasized the importance of standing up for democracy, human rights, and putting an end to genocide. She voiced her commitment to supporting the students who were advocating for these causes.
According to David Schwab, the communications director for Jill Stein for President, Stein had made efforts to de-escalate the tensions between protestors and law enforcement on Saturday afternoon. However, Schwab noted that the police did not respond positively to these attempts and proceeded with arrests shortly after.
Schwab further commented on the situation, echoing Stein's sentiments that it was regrettable for university administrations to endorse the use of force against their own students. He highlighted that the students were peacefully advocating for peace, human rights, and an end to a genocide that is widely condemned by the American people.
Additionally, it was reported that Stein's campaign manager and deputy campaign manager were also arrested during the protest.
