AHRC Condemns WSU’s Forceful Raid Against Students’ Encampment, Urges dialogue:

The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) denounces Wayne State University- WSU’s administration’s decision to forcefully dismantle the peaceful student encampment protest earlier this morning. The “authorized” excessive use of force is not acceptable nor justified.

AHRC resents the WSU Police use of excessive force and demands that all detained students be immediately released with no charges. Protesting is the students’ basic constitutional right. The students do NOT deserve to be treated in such fashion. It is very disturbing, alarming, and unnecessary. These students are America at its best. The pro- Palestine students are motivated by the rejection of genocide, not by so-called anti-Semitism.

AHRC calls on WSU leadership and all universities to deal with protesting students as stakeholders with rights. The university is their university, their second home.

AHRC continues to receive a large number of calls from students, witnesses and concerned parents regarding the police raid. The circulating images and videos are very alarming, very disappointing and do not represent WSU reputation. We are also troubled by reports of the forceful removal of a female student’s headscarf.

As a strong believer in dialogue, we request the immediate release of all students with No Charges. We call for a full transparent investigation of the raid. AHRC will continue to monitor this situation.

“Universities should deal with student protests as legitimate exercises of basic rights,” said Imad Hamad, AHRC Executive Director. “Universities should reject outside pressure to be heavy handed and should be de-escalating, not escalating,” added Hamad.