Updated: April 26, 2024 at 7:30pm
On April 25, 2024, an unauthorized demonstration was established on University Yard. Unlike many demonstrations in the past, this encampment violated several university policies, including the unauthorized use of reserved space, which was held for the GW Law finals, and a failure to comply with administrative directions.
From the beginning of the demonstration, our priorities were to ensure the safety of all our students while enforcing university rules. Demonstrators were informed by GWPD early Thursday that they needed to relocate from the University Yard to an alternate protest site provided by the university, where they could stay until 7:00 p.m. After demonstrators refused multiple instructions to relocate, GWPD requested additional support from the DC Metropolitan Police to ensure the safety and security of all our community members through a measured and orderly approach.
As the evening progressed and the crowd grew larger, we continued to consider the best resolution to the situation. At no point was there violence. In order to maintain a safe and controlled environment, demonstrators were allowed more time to exit the University Yard. By morning, the number of demonstrators in the yard had diminished, but some students remained.
At 12:30 p.m. on April 26, the university informed remaining demonstrators that their presence and conduct in University Yard continued to be in violation of several university policies and they were trespassing. The university also said that any student who remains in University Yard may be placed on temporary suspension and administratively barred from campus. Several students have already been notified of their suspensions.
Several non-affiliated individuals joined the protest at various times, and we have since taken steps to restrict their access to University Yard. We are also aware of offensive signage, including a despicable and antisemitic poster that has appeared in media. We have no reason to believe the individual holding the poster is associated with GW, and we wholly denounce this type of conduct. It has no place on our campus or in our community.
As we have stated previously, GW remains dedicated to protecting our community’s rights to open inquiry, free expression, academic freedom, and vigorous discussion and debate. Our enduring commitment to these core tenets has made the university one of the nation’s premier academic and research institutions, and protecting them is the hallmark of a free and fair democratic society.
We are also committed to enforcing the clearly defined rules of conduct and behavior that allow us to maintain a campus environment that is conducive to the world-class educational experience our students, parents, faculty, and staff expect.
Balancing these responsibilities will always be challenging for a community as active and engaged as the George Washington University. But as a home for the world’s current and future leaders, it is critical that we find ways to do so safely and respectfully.