Tulane University in New Orleans has recently announced a series of arrests and suspensions in response to ongoing anti-Israel protests on campus. President Michael Fitts addressed the community in a letter, revealing that six arrests have been made and seven students have been suspended for their involvement in what he deemed as an 'unlawful demonstration.' An additional suspension is pending as the university continues to investigate reports of employees participating in the protests.
While Tulane University upholds the value of free speech and has supported lawful demonstrations in the past, President Fitts made it clear that actions such as trespassing, hate speech, antisemitism, and bias against religious or ethnic groups will not be tolerated on campus. He emphasized that harassment, intimidation, violence, and other criminal acts will face strict consequences.
Due to safety concerns, classes in certain halls will be conducted remotely, while operations in other parts of the campus will proceed as usual. The lawn in front of Gibson Hall and parking in Cowen Circle have been closed to students, faculty, and staff until further notice to ensure security measures are in place.
President Fitts noted that the majority of protestors involved in the demonstrations are not affiliated with Tulane University, and security measures have been heightened across the campus to maintain safety and order.
