ATLANTA — Recent protests at Emory University have left students shaken and questioning the role of law enforcement on campus.
11Alive's Karys Belger spoke with students from various colleges across Metro Atlanta who found themselves unexpectedly thrust into a chaotic situation during Thursday's demonstration.
"I never intended to attend the protest," said Alexis Young, recounting the events that unfolded. "I got to campus a little before ten for class, and I saw what appeared to be a pretty small demonstration—maybe like 20 tents. It wasn't big."
However, Young's plans changed abruptly when she received texts from her classmates informing her that one of their peers and a professor had been arrested. "We all left to go try to help. We found our classmates sitting there in handcuffs," she explained.
Young described how she was hit with tear gas while attempting to assist a fellow student who was being arrested. The use of tear gas and the involvement of law enforcement left many students questioning the necessity of police intervention.
The underlying tension surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict exacerbated emotions on campus, with some students feeling targeted and unsafe.
"I'm Jewish. I wear a kippah around campus. I've been harassed before for wearing it," one student revealed. "It doesn't feel like a safe place for students."
Others expressed a sense of loss and frustration. "I think we've lost our shared humanity on both sides. It's gone. And I don't think that anything that's happening now is productive," remarked another student.
In response to the unrest, Emory University's President issued a statement emphasizing the importance of respectful discourse.
"As we approach finals, the end of the academic year, and Commencement, I recognize that there is disagreement on difficult issues and there will continue to be debate. But I also know we can express our views and beliefs without diminishing the experiences and accomplishments of others."
Among the protesters were students from neighboring institutions, including Spelman and Morehouse College, who attended to show support. However, they expressed concerns about the potential fallout from Thursday's events on future demonstrations.
"At the end of the day, this is a war on a global front and a war in a sense not of what's happening in Palestine, but a war of people with morals against people without morals," one student reflected.
As the community grapples with the aftermath of the protest, students are left hoping for a return to dialogue and understanding on campus.