Students in dorms craned their necks and shakily stretched their iPhones out windows to observe the impending attack.
We clung tighter to one another as they approached us, and seized us like rag dolls and slammed us into the hallowed ground of brick and concrete. But unlike rag dolls, we bleed, we crack, we bruise, we feel.
Thousands protested in Tel Aviv on Monday night, April 29, in a rally that later descended into clashes with police forces, arrests, and police violence toward protesters and relatives of hostages. The rally reached the King George Street near of the ruling Likud party’s headquarters, where police used a water cannon and mounted cops to disperse the protest.
Cops shoved Ilana Gritzewsky, Matan Zangauker’s partner who was kidnapped on October 7 and released in the November deal. Early protesters blocked the army headquarters entrance at Begin Street and Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan, addressed Netanyahu, saying he had to choose between bringing the hostages home and keeping intact his government over the objections of racist ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, who vehemently oppose a hostage deal that would require a ceasefire. Einav Zangauker told Ynet that cops had pushed her to the ground at the Likud headquarters and that the police used excessive force and sent in disproportionate forces to disperse the crowd, in what she called “stepped-up violence.”
Noelle McAfee (age 63, born November 25, 1960) is a prominent political theorist and feminist. Currently, she holds the position of chair in the philosophy department at Emory University, a role she’s held since 2010.
Alongside being a Professor of Philosophy, she’s also a Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Emory.
(25.04.2024)
(25.04.2024)
„To sustain this level of blind support for Israel, the U.S. must erode its own democracy,“ said one foreign policy expert. „And that is what we see happening on U.S. campuses now.“
(25.04.2024)
A CNN crew witnessed at least two professors detained by Atlanta police, including Emory University economics professor Caroline Fohlin and Noëlle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department.
After all, the division over the war in Gaza is by no means confined to students. As has happened with so many rifts in our country’s history, students have simply used their activism to become a prism reflecting the wider world. Which is why they need to be taken seriously, for all of our sakes.
If they do nothing else, the growing demonstrations are forcing us to confront who we are, what we believe and why.
What is happening in Gaza is not a war “over there.” It’s right here, right now, among our own children. And we all need to figure out where we stand.
Going over some of the news, good and bad, coming out of the campus protests. Including what happened to Emory University‘s professor of economics Caroline Fohlin, but also a beautiful speech given by an 88-year-old activist.
(16.11.2023)
Washington, DC — Washington, D.C. police violently attacked nonviolent anti-war activists at a ceasefire vigil outside a fundraiser event held by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) Wednesday evening. Wielding pepper spray and pellet guns, the police rushed members of the interfaith vigil without warning, where some activists had blocked some of the doors of the Democratic DCCC’s candidate event, asking politicians to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The activists were joined by faith leaders in calling for a ceasefire to end the Israeli military’s massacre of Palestinians, to facilitate a hostage exchange, and to ensure that humanitarian and medical aid can reach Palestinians in besieged Gaza.
What happened on November 15?
On November 15, a multi-faith group of nonviolent peace activists led a vigil to mourn the lives of Palestinians and Israelis killed since October 7, followed by a moral act of civil disobedience calling on Democrats to support a ceasefire to save lives, and to end our government’s funding of violence against Palestinian civilians by Netanyahu’s far-right government.
Police brutally attacked these nonviolent anti-war activists who were bringing their messaging for a ceasefire outside of a fundraiser event held by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Without any warning or request to disperse, the police rushed members of the interfaith vigil and protest, wielding pepper spray and pellet guns. Police threw protesters down the stairs, sprayed pepper spray, and hit protesters with bikes. They knocked one protester to the ground, dragged them by their hair, and then knocked them back down the steps.
Over 11,200 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes and siege since October 7, including over 4,600 children.
According to kibbutz witnesses, the captain fired shots into the air after perceiving danger from the activists. Around 9:45pm, judicial overhaul supporters arrived, blocking the kibbutz entrance. Confrontations ensued, including banging on a car with a kibbutz member and a young girl inside. Feeling threatened, one of the members fired into the air.
As Israeli lawmakers prepare to vote on the judicial overhaul plans backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demonstrators are blocking the entrance to parliament, and security forces are using water cannons to disperse them
A protester near the Knesset is injured after being struck in the head by a police water cannon.
There is no immediate word on the demonstrator’s condition as an ambulance is called to the scene.
„We want to ask ICC to be alert because what is happening are acts of criminality,“ he said.
Kiambu Senator Karungo Wathangwa asked the President to lock the country and deal with the opposition if that is what it will take to restore peace and order in the country.
„If it takes three, four or five days to lock down this country and deal with these people, let it be,“ he said.
Kenyans are preparing for tough times after lawmakers approved tax increases that are unpopular even with supporters of the president, who once vowed to reduce the cost of living. William Ruto’s election win was attributed to his appeal to voters as a fellow “hustler” who rose from a humble background to senior roles in government, including as Jomo Kenyatta’s vice president. (…)
Kenya’s High Court suspended the tax hike pending a legal challenge, but the government raised gas prices anyway.
On the website Alimut Yisrael (Violence Israel), Israelis have reported 283 cases of violence by the police, 145 of them in the last two weeks. It‘s unclear how many cases have gone unreported.
„In the videos uploaded by protesters, you can see the same policeman at the protest in the morning, at the protest at noon and then again in the evening,“ says Inbar Yassur, who founded the site. “With so many working so hard, they seem to be on edge.”
(06.07.2023)
14 protesters were hospitalized following clashes with police Wednesday night, after thousands of Israelis took to the streets across the country immediately following the news of Tel Aviv District Police Commander Ami Eshed’s dramatic announcement of his resignation from the force.
A number of people took to the streets of Belgium’s capital on Thursday to support protests in France over the police killing of a 17-year-old delivery driver in a Paris suburb, setting vehicles on fire before police intervened and detained some of them
According to local media, a group of young people issued a call on social media in support of the demonstrations in France over the death of the teenager, identified as Nahel M., who was shot and killed by a police officer on Tuesday in Nanterre after failing to stop during a traffic check.
A lawyer representing his family told the French television program “C à Vous” that he had no criminal record. But Pascal Prache, the top prosecutor in Nanterre, said that the teenager had been known to the police for not complying with traffic stops and had been summoned to juvenile court in September for such an incident.
Nahel M. was driving a yellow Mercedes AMG on Tuesday morning. Mr. Prache told a news conference on Thursday that a search of the car did not find any “dangerous” material or illegal drugs.
Auslöser der Ausschreitungen sind tödliche Schüsse eines Polizisten auf einen Jugendlichen nordafrikanischer Abstammung im Pariser Arbeitervorort Nanterre. Eine Motorradstreife hatte den 17-Jährigen am Dienstagmorgen am Steuer eines Autos gestoppt. Als der junge Mann plötzlich anfuhr, fiel der tödliche Schuss aus der Dienstwaffe des Polizisten.
French President Emmanuel Macron called a new government emergency meeting on Friday after a third night of violent clashes between protesters and police in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse and Lille. Forty thousand police officers were deployed in France on Thursday night – nearly four times the number mobilised on Wednesday – and some 421 people were arrested, Le Figaro newspaper said. Protests were sparked by the deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old on Tuesday that shocked the nation.
Police initially reported that one officer shot at the teenager because he was driving his car at him, but this version of events was contradicted by a video circulating on social media and authenticated by AFP.
The footage shows the two policemen standing by the side of the stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver. A voice is heard saying: „You are going to get a bullet in the head.“
The police officer appears to fire at the driver at point-blank range as the car abruptly drives off, advancing a few dozen metres before crashing.
This embarrassing conduct on the part of the police would not have happened if it hadn’t been for the guiding spirit of their bosses – Netanyahu; Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister responsible for the police; and Kobi Shabtai, the police commander, who is currently trying to win reappointment for his fourth year on the job. In addition, Yoram Sofer, the police commander responsible for Caesarea, who Shabtai despises, considers himself a candidate to replace Shabtai. Sofer is currently Ben-Gvir’s candidate to command the Tel Aviv district police.
Die Frau ist 1,57 Meter groß und 43 Kilogramm schwer und auf eine Gehhilfe angewiesen. Der Polizist ist laut BBC nicht suspendiert worden, werde aber derzeit nicht mehr eingesetzt.
Her son was beaten to death approximately 100 yards from her home, and at a Friday news conference, she pleaded with other parents not to allow their children to watch it.
Das kleine Dorf Lützerath ist zum großen Symbol für die Klimapolitik der Bundesregierung geworden. Ein breites Bündnis der Klimabewegung hat den Weiler besetzt und seit heute darf die Polizei den Ort, der mittlerweile dem Energiekonzern RWE gehört, räumen. Der Konzern will das Dorf abreißen und Braunkohle abbaggern, deswegen steht Lützerath derzeit im Mittelpunkt des öffentlichen Interesses – Das kleine Dorf Lützerath ist zum großen Symbol für die Klimapolitik der Bundesregierung geworden. Ein breites Bündnis der Klimabewegung hat den Weiler besetzt und seit heute darf die Polizei den Ort, der mittlerweile dem Energiekonzern RWE gehört, räumen. Der Konzern will das Dorf abreißen und Braunkohle abbaggern, deswegen steht Lützerath derzeit im Mittelpunkt des öffentlichen Interesses – auch international.
Vor kurzem waren hier die erschütternden Innenansichten aus der Polizei von Martin Schmidt (Name geändert) zu lesen, der nach 27 Jahren im gehobenen Dienst in der Hauptstadt berichtete. Auf das Interview hin meldete sich ein weiterer Polizist bei der Autorin, Sophia-Maria Antonulas, und erzählte nicht weniger erschreckende und bewegende Insider-Informationen. Auch hier gilt, leider: Es ist eine Zustandsbeschreibung wie aus einem autoritären Regime. Die zeigt: Die Polizei und ihre politische Führung in Berlin fühlen sich über dem Gesetz.
(17.08.2022)
Die Protestbewegung auf der Straße durfte einfach nicht wachsen. Im Spätsommer 2020 hatte die Politik Angst, dass die Stimmung komplett kippt. So verhängte die Polizeiführung und der damalige Innensenator Andreas Geisel für die Großdemo am 29. August 2020 ein Demonstrationsverbot., das in zwei Instanzen von der Justiz gekippt wurde. Trotzdem stoppte die Polizei den Demonstrationszug und blockierte ihn stundenlang. Die erst dadurch entstandene Stauung und geringeren Abstände dienten dann als Begründung für eine Gefahrenlage. Tatsächlich ging es darum, den Demonstranten ihr Grundrecht zu verwehren. Für mich stellt diese Vorgangsweise eine klare Missachtung der Gewaltenteilung dar.
Im Vorfeld seines Schreibens kontaktierte Melzer die betreffenden Behörden und diskutierte intensiv bestimmte Fälle. Sein Fazit lautet: Obwohl eine solche Polizeipraxis „eine grausame und unmenschliche Behandlung und in einigen Fällen sogar Folter“ darstelle, deuten die Antworten der Regierungsverantwortlichen auf „eine beständige Fehlinterpretation der Anforderungen bezüglich Notwendigkeit, Verhältnismäßigkeit und Vorsicht“ hin. Dabei hebt er ausdrücklich hervor, dass zur Antidiskriminierung nicht nur Kategorien wie Hautfarbe, Herkunft oder Geschlecht gehören, sondern auch kritische Stellungnahmen zur Regierungspolitik in allen öffentlichen Kontroverseren, einschließlich in Sachen Pandemiepolitik.
This is not just about damage to Israel’s image. This is a definitive incident that revealed the full ugliness of life under Israel’s occupation. No PR in the world can repair the damage, because there is no “narrative” that justifies the Israel Police’s conduct.
This is not only about contempt for the pain and grief of the Palestinians; it is about a fundamentally wrong attitude toward the Palestinian flag. This is the flag of the Palestinian Authority – an entity established as part of a deal with Israel, a deal that among other things enshrines the security cooperation that Israel has enjoyed for almost 30 years – and it is recognized by the whole world, including Israel.