In a staunch refusal to bend to the will of protestors, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said yesterday that the University of Texas demands for divestment concerning weapon manufacturers tied to Israel will "NEVER" happen. Taking to the social media platform X, Abbott was clear and unwavering in his stance, "This will never happen! The only thing that will happen is that the university and the state will use all law-enforcement tools to quickly terminate illegal protests taking place on campus that clearly violate the laws of the state of Texas and policies of the university," as FOX San Antonio reported.
This will NEVER happen.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 5, 2024
The only thing that will happen is that the University and the State will use all law-enforcement tools to quickly terminate illegal protests taking place on campus that clearly violate the laws of the state of Texas and policies of the university. https://t.co/Qah3dvZ9H1
Abbott's firm stance follows weeks of student-led demonstrations at the University of Texas at Austin, part of a larger series of nationwide university protests over Israel's military actions against Hamas in Gaza. The UT protesters, who have set up encampments and engaged with police, are making some specific demands, including UT Austin divesting from companies supplying arms to Israel, amnesty for arrested student protesters, and the resignation of UT President Jay Hartzell. During Sunday’s protest, which drew roughly 300 individuals, tensions were palpable, though it concluded without major incident, and speakers gave advice on safely leaving the area, according to details obtained by Yahoo News.
The April 24 protest on the South Lawn of UT Austin marked a significant escalation when police utilized pepper spray in efforts to clear protestors’ encampments. The events have led to over 140 arrests since that surge in protest activities. The government appeared to fully back the approach of the university in handling the situation, especially visible through the support Abbott extended towards President Jay Hartzell’s decisions to call in police to manage and make arrests when deemed necessary.
Voices opposing the university's relationship with military dealings are not to be quieted, though, as more than 600 faculty members have signed a letter claiming no confidence in Hartzell’s leadership. Highlighting this, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, accountable for organizing the protest, continues to call for major changes at the university. They are advocating for divestment from entities connected with the conflict in Gaza, amnesty for their peers, and a leadership shuffle at the top, as outlined in a statement obtained by Yahoo News.
