Anarchists at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., have been calling for the beheadings of school administrators as part of their anti-Israel encampment on campus. In a resurfaced video, demonstrators chanted for the use of a guillotine on GW President Ellen Granberg and other administrators. The situation escalated as some individuals specifically targeted Christopher Alan Bracey, GW’s African American provost, with threats involving the guillotine and gallows. At least 35 people were subsequently arrested by DC police in response to the chaos on campus.
Following the calls for beheadings, members of the encampment held a mock court hearing to determine the fate of the administrators. The incident was recorded on an Instagram Live video on May 3 and has gained traction on social media. During the trial, the encampment leader delivered a fake verdict, with protesters calling for the beheading of various university officials, including members of the board of trustees and the school’s president. This disruptive behavior continued throughout the night, leading to police intervention in the early hours of the morning, which resulted in the use of pepper spray to disperse the crowd.
The encampment at GWU’s U-Yard featured tents, Palestinian flags, and defacement of a statue of the campus’ namesake, former President George Washington. Protesters added “Free Palestine” stickers to the statue and displayed an American flag with the words “Genocide Joe” in reference to President Biden. As the situation escalated, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith were scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee to address the anti-Israel demonstration and related safety concerns on the university campus. Rep. James Comer criticized D.C. leadership for not adequately responding to the university’s request for assistance in managing the protests.
The anti-Israel demonstration at George Washington University continued for 14 days, with the House Oversight Committee planning to convene a hearing to address the unlawful activities and antisemitism associated with the encampment. The hearing, titled “Oversight of D.C.’s Response to Unlawful Activity and Antisemitism,” aimed to gather information from local leaders about strategies to end the disruptive behavior on campus. The House Oversight Committee’s hearing was set to take place in the 2154 Rayburn House Office Building, where lawmakers would seek answers from D.C. officials regarding measures being taken to ensure peace and security in the university community.