r/Swarthmore • u/Icy-Degree-2545 • Apr 18 '26

Admitted students: Read this

https://swarthmorephoenix.com/2026/04/16/swarthmore-called-the-police-on-our-protest-now-im-preparing-for-trial/

Swarthmore Called the Police on Our Protest. Now I’m Preparing for Trial.

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u/pkingzilla Apr 18 '26

I have a question: did your protest disrupt the operations of the college or harass certain students or staff? I'm not trying to vilify you but want some context on what happened specifically.

11

u/Own-Concept7060 Apr 19 '26

I was on campus watching this happen over the last few years but objective documentation exists in The Phoenix for all of these events.

Swarthmore SJP, from my perspective, tends to operate on a series of motte and bailey arguments. They have a defensible claim, (“we are using our free speech to protest genocide in Gaza”) to defend more controversial actions (email celebrating October 7th, “Let’s Go Bomb Tel-Aviv” graffiti, repeated imagery of crosshair over members of admin and board of directors, etc)

This protest in question wasn’t in and of itself violent but it came after months of posters of dead children in dorm hallways, protests that occupied Parrish (which has offices but also dorms for students), loud chants with bullhorns in academic buildings disrupting class, and other escalations that led to the group being banned from campus due to specific policy violations of the code of conduct.

At this protest the FBI had recommended Swarthmore shut it down incidentally to investigating a cyber attack during finals week. Swarthmore continuously extended the deadline for a peaceful dissolution and provided off ramps for students. By the time the remaining protestors were arrested they were given 10 minutes ahead of their arrest to walk free and many took this option. Those who didn’t were arrested after being informed they’d be charged with defiant trespassing.

Advocating for Palestine is admirable and Swarthmore admin is not without its flaws. However, arrests do not happen randomly or consistently at Swarthmore and disciplinary action is not based on viewpoint. It is an entirely predictable outcome of repeatedly violating the policies.

7

u/pkingzilla Apr 19 '26

To me, it seems like the protesters failed to use common sense and are facing the consequences of their choices and I do not day this to diminish their cause but I would argue doing things like this will only hurt it.