Anarchists at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., have called for the beheadings of school administrators during their anti-Israel encampment. Video posted on social media showed demonstrators chanting “Guillotine” and targeting school administrators, specifically African American Provost Christopher Alan Bracey. The protesters held a mock court hearing to decide the fate of the administrators, with calls for beheadings and chaos on campus persisting throughout the night. Police ultimately used pepper spray to clear the crowd at 3:30 a.m., after the protesters resisted their attempts to restore order.
The encampment at GWU involved the erection of tents, display of Palestinian flags, and defacement of a statue of former President George Washington with Palestinian iconography, including “Free Palestine” stickers. The crowd also displayed an American flag with the words “Genocide Joe” in reference to President Biden. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith are expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee regarding the demonstration and potential safety concerns on the GWU campus.
Rep. James Comer criticized D.C. leadership for not responding to the university’s requests for assistance in handling the combative protests, which have continued for days. The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing to address the escalating situation and seek answers from local leaders about steps being taken to end the unlawful activity. Wednesday marks the 14th day of the encampment, and the hearing on “Oversight of D.C.’s Response to Unlawful Activity and Antisemitism” is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. EST in the 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.
The anti-Israel protesters also erected an American flag with the words “Genocide Joe,” referencing President Biden, as part of their demonstration on the GWU campus. The encampment involved calls for beheadings of school administrators, including GW President Ellen Granberg and African American Provost Christopher Alan Bracey, with demonstrators holding a mock court hearing to decide their fate. The protests caused chaos on campus, resulting in police intervention using pepper spray to disperse the crowd in the early hours of the morning.
Despite the chaos and unrest caused by the encampment at GWU, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith are set to testify before the House Oversight Committee to address the anti-Israel demonstration and any safety concerns it may have raised on campus. Rep. James Comer, chairman of the committee, has criticized D.C. leadership for not responding adequately to the university’s requests for assistance in handling the protests, which have grown increasingly combative. The House Oversight Committee hearing aims to gather information on steps being taken to end the unlawful activity that has been ongoing for days.