The Encampments
March 28, 2025 8:23 PM Subscribe
The trailer for the Encampments - a documentary produced by Watermelon Pictures and Breakthrough News, following student organizers at elite universities as they take a historic stand against their institutions' investments in the Gaza genocide. The documentary features currently detained activist Mahmoud Khalil, who is currently facing deportation. Hip hop star Macklemore is executive producer, and he explains to Democracy Now! why he got involved. They also spoke with Atalla; Sueda Polat, a Columbia graduate student and fellow campus negotiator with Khalil; and Grant Miner, a former Columbia graduate student and president of the student workers' union who was expelled from the school over his participation in the protests.
"Where Have all the Flowers Gone?" and those who sang it? I am old. I went to an anti Trump/ Musk protest in my very tiny town. Where is everyone else?
posted by woman at 9:00 PM on March 28 [1 favorite]
posted by woman at 9:00 PM on March 28 [1 favorite]
I have never in my life seen speech proactively suppressed the way that it has been for people standing up for Palestine. It really touches a nerve with a certain kind of institutionalist.
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 11:16 PM on March 28 [10 favorites]
posted by Smedly, Butlerian jihadi at 11:16 PM on March 28 [10 favorites]
Yes, this is mostly about the US encampments, with a focus on Columbia University and I think, to a smaller part, UCLA.
- UCLA has just recommended an indefinite ban for Students for Justice in Palestine for UCLA and suspending Graduate SJP for four years.
- Meanwhile, UCLA is being sued by participants in the encampment for violating their civil rights, discriminating against pro-Palestinian protesters, and failing to protect them from being violently attacked by counter-protesters.
We should note that suppression of pro-Palestinian encampments had been happening under the Biden administration, that it was in blue states where riot cops were called in, had snipers posted on rooftops, imposing mask bans, and also under Biden where the admin refused to investigate the murder of an American activist in the West Bank, etc. I'm not trying to re-litigate the election - I would just like people to acknowledge that things have not only been bad under Trump - they've gotten worse because we all turned a blind eye to it under liberal administrations because it wasn't affecting us directly.
Anyway, Harvard has just dismissed the leaders of their Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Columbia University's interim president has stepped down and is being replaced by acting president Claire Shipman, who is accused by protesters of having ties to AIPAC.
The US govt is using AI to enact "Catch and Revoke" - to target pro-Palestinian students and visa holders.
posted by toastyk at 7:01 AM on March 29 [4 favorites]
- UCLA has just recommended an indefinite ban for Students for Justice in Palestine for UCLA and suspending Graduate SJP for four years.
- Meanwhile, UCLA is being sued by participants in the encampment for violating their civil rights, discriminating against pro-Palestinian protesters, and failing to protect them from being violently attacked by counter-protesters.
We should note that suppression of pro-Palestinian encampments had been happening under the Biden administration, that it was in blue states where riot cops were called in, had snipers posted on rooftops, imposing mask bans, and also under Biden where the admin refused to investigate the murder of an American activist in the West Bank, etc. I'm not trying to re-litigate the election - I would just like people to acknowledge that things have not only been bad under Trump - they've gotten worse because we all turned a blind eye to it under liberal administrations because it wasn't affecting us directly.
Anyway, Harvard has just dismissed the leaders of their Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Columbia University's interim president has stepped down and is being replaced by acting president Claire Shipman, who is accused by protesters of having ties to AIPAC.
The US govt is using AI to enact "Catch and Revoke" - to target pro-Palestinian students and visa holders.
posted by toastyk at 7:01 AM on March 29 [4 favorites]
I think I'll slot this scoop from Times of India here: Hundreds of international students wake up to an email asking them to self deport for campus activism
posted by cendawanita at 11:10 AM on March 29 [3 favorites]
posted by cendawanita at 11:10 AM on March 29 [3 favorites]
In the US, the Encampments is now being released nationwide - check here for listings, most start April 4.
posted by toastyk at 8:53 AM on March 31
posted by toastyk at 8:53 AM on March 31
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Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
Passed in preparation for an anticipated war with France, the Alien and Sedition Acts tightened restrictions on foreign-born Americans and limited speech critical of the government.
posted by robbyrobs at 8:49 PM on March 28