Krystal and Saagar HEATED Debate On Campus Gaza Protests
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses the unfolding protests across various U.S. campuses, particularly focusing on Columbia University and the University of Texas at Austin. It highlights the resurgence of activism reminiscent of the 1960s, with protesters occupying Hamilton Hall at Columbia in a stand against perceived injustices, including the Israeli Defense Forces' actions. The discussion also touches on the crackdown on these protests, with police using force and making arrests, leading to a public outcry and further student defiance. The conversation delves into the broader implications of these actions, including the potential backlash against protesters, the importance of peaceful protest, and the role of free speech in democratic society. It also addresses the response from political figures and the potential threat to federal funding for universities that do not suppress 'wrongthink.' The summary underscores the tension between upholding free speech and the aggressive enforcement of ideological conformity in educational institutions.
Takeaways
- 📚 Columbia University has become a focal point for protests, with parallels drawn to the 1968 anti-Vietnam War demonstrations.
- 🏛️ Hamilton Hall, a building at Columbia, was occupied by protesters, echoing its 1968 use as a site of protest and raising questions about property destruction.
- 🚨 At UT Austin, there was a significant police crackdown on student protests, leading to arrests and allegations of police brutality.
- 🤔 The effectiveness of protests is debated, with some arguing that they can lead to meaningful change, while others suggest they may not result in tangible outcomes.
- 🌐 International attention is drawn to the protests, with implications for global politics and the perception of the United States' stance on international issues.
- 👮♂️ Law enforcement's response to protests is criticized for being heavy-handed, potentially undermining the right to peaceful assembly.
- 🏛️ There's a discussion about the balance between enforcing rules and respecting the history of student activism at universities.
- 💭 The potential consequences for students participating in protests, including academic and legal repercussions, are highlighted.
- 🗣️ The role of free speech in the context of campus protests is a point of contention, with some arguing that it's being suppressed.
- 🤝 There's a call for solidarity and support for the protesters, emphasizing the importance of standing up for principles and potential sacrifices.
- 👉 The potential impact of protests on political discourse and policy, both domestically and internationally, is acknowledged.
Q & A
What was the significance of Hamilton Hall in the context of the protests at Columbia University?
-Hamilton Hall was significant because it was one of the buildings that anti-Vietnam War protesters took over in 1968, and it was again occupied by protesters in the described events, symbolizing a connection to the activism of the past.
What was the reference to 'Hin Hall' in the context of the Columbia University protests?
-The reference to 'Hin Hall' was in honor of Hind, a six-year-old girl whose family was killed by an IDF strike. She was able to call for help but was assassinated by the IDF along with her potential rescuers, highlighting the human cost of conflict.
Why did the Texas governor Greg Abbott decide to enforce a crackdown on the protests at UT Austin?
-The script does not provide a specific reason for Governor Greg Abbott's decision, but it suggests that he abandoned any pretense of supporting free speech and opted for a full crackdown, which included police in riot gear and arrests.
What was the reaction of the protesters at UT Austin after the police cleared the area?
-The protesters at UT Austin were determined and came back to reset up the encampment and restart the protest. They even chanted 'you failed' in reference to the police's actions at a scene involving a school incident.
What was the Columbia University administration's response to the protests and occupation of Hamilton Hall?
-Columbia University initially set a deadline for the protesters to leave Hamilton Hall, but when that deadline passed without enforcement, they began suspending students involved in the protests, barring them from finishing the semester, graduating, or entering campus housing or academic buildings.
What was the stance of the Biden administration regarding the use of police force on college campus protests?
-The Biden administration, represented by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, emphasized the right of Americans to peacefully protest within the law and condemned anti-Semitism, but provided a limited response to the specific question about police force on campus protests.
What actions were proposed by some U.S. politicians in response to the protests on college campuses?
-Some U.S. politicians proposed reducing or eliminating federal funds to campuses that could not maintain safety and security, revoking visas of foreign students participating in protests, and even placing students on a no-fly list.
Why was there a debate about the effectiveness of protests in bringing about change?
-The debate arose because some individuals believe that protests, while a form of expression, may not lead to tangible change, especially when they result in property damage or violent confrontations with authorities. Others argue that protests are part of a broader movement that can shift public opinion and pressure lawmakers.
What historical references were made in the script regarding protests and their impact?
-The script referenced the 1968 protests at Columbia University, the Civil Rights era, the Selma, Alabama March led by Martin Luther King Jr., and the impact of LGBTQ+ rights movements to illustrate the varied outcomes and impacts of protests over time.
What was the speaker's opinion on the potential consequences for students involved in the protests?
-The speaker expressed concern for the students, suggesting that they might face severe consequences such as expulsion, arrest, and long-term effects on their future, but also acknowledged their courage and the importance of standing up for their beliefs.
What was the speaker's view on the role of federal funding in influencing the political stance of universities?
-The speaker was opposed to the idea that federal funding could be contingent on a university's adherence to a particular political ideology, arguing that it could lead to a dangerous precedent of government overreach and infringement on First Amendment rights.
Outlines
🚨 Campus Protests and Crackdowns 🚨
The video discusses the protests at Columbia University, referencing the historical context of 1968 and the current situation involving the takeover of Hamilton Hall. It also addresses the police response at the University of Texas at Austin, where Governor Greg Abbott's crackdown on protesters is criticized. The speaker condemns the violence against student protesters and highlights the resilience of the protesters in the face of police action.
🤔 Controversy Over Property Damage and Activism 🤔
This paragraph debates the strategy of property damage during protests, using the example of 1968's Hamilton Hall occupation and the current situation at Columbia University. The speaker argues against property destruction, suggesting it invites police retaliation. There's also a critique of Columbia's response to the protests, accusing the university of inconsistent enforcement of its rules and of undermining its history of student activism.
🌎 Global Impact of Student Protests 🌎
The speaker admires the protesters for their willingness to sacrifice for values and for people they may never meet. They argue that the protests have global significance, particularly for the Palestinians in Gaza, and have already influenced public opinion and political discourse. The paragraph also addresses the potential for a backlash similar to that of the Vietnam War protesters and the importance of historical context in understanding the impact of protests.
📚 The Role of Congress and Legislative Change 📚
The focus shifts to the importance of legislative action in addition to street protests for achieving lasting change. The Civil Rights era and the role of Martin Luther King Jr., President Lyndon B. Johnson, and the NAACP are highlighted as examples. The speaker emphasizes that protests are part of a broader strategy that includes influencing lawmakers and that the current movement has already achieved some political victories.
😷 Masks and the Awareness of Consequences 😷
The video script describes the protective measures taken by faculty and students during a protest at Columbia University, including wearing orange vests and masks to shield their identities. Despite the awareness of potential consequences, the protesters continue their activities. The paragraph also covers the Biden administration's response to the protests and the use of police force on college campuses, criticizing the lack of substantial comment beyond condemning anti-Semitism.
🛡️ Threats to Free Speech and Federal Intervention 🛡️
The final paragraph discusses the threats to free speech on college campuses, with proposals from politicians to cut federal funding to universities that do not suppress protests. It also mentions the possibility of foreign student visas being revoked and the idea of placing student protesters on a no-fly list. The speaker expresses concern over these measures, likening them to the Patriot Act, and argues against the federal government enforcing a particular ideology on educational institutions.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Protests
💡Columbia University
💡Free Speech
💡Hamilton Hall
💡Property Damage
💡Police Crackdown
💡Divestment
💡First Amendment
💡Ideological Enforcement
💡Federal Funding
💡No-fly list
Highlights
Columbia University has become a focal point for protests and subsequent crackdowns, echoing the 1968 anti-Vietnam War demonstrations.
Protesters have taken over Hamilton Hall, a building with historical significance related to activism.
A flag hung from Hamilton Hall references a tragic incident involving a young girl and the IDF, symbolizing the protesters' cause.
The protests at Columbia University are intentionally creating a connection to the activism of the 1960s.
At UT Austin, police have taken a hard line against protesters, leading to a significant backlash.
Despite a crackdown, protesters at UT Austin have been determined to regroup and continue their demonstrations.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott's administration is facing criticism for its approach to handling the protests.
Columbia University's response to protests has been mixed, with deadlines set but not enforced, leading to confusion.
The faculty at Columbia University has shown support for student protesters by forming a protective barrier around them.
Columbia University has begun suspending students involved in the protests, barring them from completing the semester.
The White House's response to the protests and police actions on campuses has been criticized as inadequate.
There is a bipartisan effort in Congress to potentially cut federal funding to universities that do not maintain safety and security for Jewish students.
Proposed measures include putting protesters on a no-fly list and revoking visas of foreign students involved in protests.
The situation has raised concerns about the erosion of First Amendment rights and civil liberties on college campuses.
Some argue that the crackdown on protests sets a dangerous precedent for the use of federal power to enforce ideological conformity.
The protests have already had an impact on public opinion and political discourse around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The debate over the effectiveness and consequences of protests continues, with some advocating for peaceful activism and others warning of potential repercussions.
Transcripts
let's go ahead and get to some of what
is unfolding around the country some
extraordinary scenes we want to start at
Columbia University which really has
been kind of Ground Zero for these
protests and for the Crackdown on these
protests so we can put these images up
on the screen you're talking about The
Echoes of
1968 so here we have protesters taking
over uh Hamilton Hall on campus that was
one of the same buildings that 1968
anti-vietnam War protesters took over at
that time you can see they have hung a
flag that says hin Hall that's a
reference to that little girl who um it
was horrible I did a whole monologue
about it she was in a car um her family
was killed by an IDF strike she was
still alive she was able to call the red
crescent she was begging for them to
come and help her they stayed on the
line with her they got the root DEC
conflicted so they could come and save
her and not only was she assassinated by
the IDF this little six-year-old
adorable girl but her would be Rescuers
also assassinated by the IDF and you
know documented on the scene that that
ambulance coming to save her was just a
block away so hins Hall um in honor of
Hind and her loss of life so again these
Echoes of 1968 now being very
intentionally um stoked and that
connectivity very intentionally created
by the protesters at Colombia I'll give
you some more updates on Columbia in a
minute because I want to show you some
of the scenes out of UT Austin where
Texas governor Greg Abbott has decided
to go full Crackdown mode any of his
pretend pretenses around Free Speech
clearly gone here here you can see um
police taking out someone carrying them
their hands are bound here you see um
these officers coming in in what appears
to be riot gear approaching the student
protesters here you see some cop beating
the hell out of someone um fists flying
there as um you know the cops are
pushing up against the protesters here
we see um people being sprayed um mace I
assume as they try to clear on this um
this area in this encampment and then
this is incredible so after the police
cleared the whole area this is
protesters coming back in and the police
actually having to retreat and then this
is uh my favorite I don't if you guys
can hear this in the background but
they're chanting you failed yaldi
because um DPS was there on the scene at
yaldi and while they're uh pretty
courageous when it comes to beating up
unarmed college kids not so courageous
when it came to rescuing these poor
babies who were trapped and being
murdered inside of that elementary
school and ultimately bleeding out so um
just extraordinary scenes there um I
don't know how many arrests were made
but student protesters at UT Austin very
determined even in spite of the
Crackdown to come back in and reset up
the encampment restart the protest um
reportedly Sager from the the scenes on
the ground the protests have only grown
in size as a result of this attempted
Crackdown so we can put Greg Abbott's
tweet up on the screen like I said all
of his Free Speech uh commentary
previously is now out the window he says
no encampments will be allowed instead
arrests are being made um your thoughts
on what is unfolding there it does look
like about 100 demonstr this is kvu KV
uabc got to give shout outs to the local
media they're saying at least 100
demonstrators there Arrested uh
returning back to that Hamilton Hall
that monologue that I gave it's uh very
signifant I mean they obviously did it
on purpose so 1968 that building
Hamilton Hall was actually occupied by
the Vietnam War protesters and they
barricaded themselves inside I will say
maybe you'll disagree with me crystal I
I think it was a mistake because one of
the reasons one of the things that they
did is there's a significant amount of
property destruction they blew open the
doors with uh with metal you know and
broke the glass and all of that you can
think that significant if you want but
once you cross into the line of straight
up property damage and you know we're no
longer in the realm of uh of like
camping on private property which is
University and that obviously you know
it's very different it's actual like
destruction of property uh that and
barricading themselves inside
vandalization you're you're set setting
yourself up for some sort of police
demonstration and so I I'll be honest I
think it was a mistake uh what they did
because destroying property and
vandalizing now at the same time look
Colombia you know I don't really know
what their deal is because Colombia says
the Colombia is like you have until 2
p.m. and we were all prepared we were
like okay here we go let's go and then 2
p p.m. comes and goes and nothing
happens and the Columbia University
faculty are all there and then they
start getting suspended but there's no
actual enforcement so in a certain sense
it's like you're setting deadlines and
then nothing is happening so I feel like
they've chosen the worst of all worlds
if you're going to have rules and you're
going to enforce them then enforce them
but if not they're in this tricky
situation I will also say in the
students defense one of the things that
Colombia Prides itself on is it history
of uh student activism and they sell
themselves about like listen we are so
sorry about what happened in 1968 and it
was a huge on to go yeah literally it
took us DEC to recover from next leaders
of activist so certain sense Columbia
does not have anybody uh but itself to
blame but I do think it was a huge
mistake to uh vandalize property and to
break into the building because uh
you're setting yourself up for a
Crackdown and I've said this before you
know as long as people are peaceful I
think it's fine but you start breaking
stuff burning stuff vandalizing stuff
I'm not going to have lot of syy for
Well here here's the thing in terms of
Colombia's
response because they threw everything
at these students for a holy peaceful
protest and you're right in the
beginning yes they brought in the cops
they threatened the National Guard they
suspended students um
indiscriminately and so when you throw
the whole kitchen sink at them to begin
with well you got nothing left they got
Nothing Left to Fear I mean this is
something that I've you know come to
realize as a parent in terms of like you
know disciplining children is your
biggest fear is they realize that like
you don't actually have any power over
them careful they might be listening to
you Ella Ida LOL don't watch the segment
but at a certain extent like you know I
can I can ground I can take away the
foot once you've done all the things
what else is there to do and so that's
what Colombia did here their Crackdown
at the be it was so aggressive we're
sending the cops and it's going to be
aggressive and we're threat in the
National Guard and all these politicians
are going to they're going to smear you
as anti-semites we're going to kick you
on a school and you're never going to
graduate you're not allowed to set foot
on campus and when the students were
like all right well that's happened what
else is there left to be threatened with
I I agree uh which is what you're
pointing to is and this is why it was
such a mistake to initially send in the
NYPD because initially this is a
peaceful protest yes they're in
violation of rules but it was they sent
in the cops and then there was a huge
backlash and then they tried negotiation
and that's a big mistake because as you
said you're suspending people you're TR
sending in the cops and you're kind of
boxing people into a corner but then
you're giving him deadlines you're not
enforcing the deadlines cuz you're
obviously look these people they have no
idea what to do they're terrified of the
headline of sending in the NYPD again in
inviting a new backlash and so they kind
of ratcheted up the anti I mean if you
think about it and this is a bad analogy
but it's like a prison right so it's
like when you have good behavior and
then you have a violation of that I just
watched that whole unlocked thing on
Netflix but it's very instructive about
how people feel and like like you're
saying about enforcement and rules is
okay if you have a medium infraction it
should be met with a medium-size
reasonable response so the reasonable
response at that time would have been to
do what they did in the interim which is
with them and be like okay guys like
what's going on here hey we have
commencement in 2 weeks you're all going
home if you don't clear out you're going
to get suspended it's going to be a
problem and you don't want that you've
paid all this money you know we have all
this going on and I think you know we're
talking about lowering tension but they
threw the cops in that was a huge
mistake that said now though you know by
box people into a corner and also kind
of both throwing the cops then backing
down they've set very unclear
expectations and now we have property
damage and a wholesale you know
occupation of the hall and unfortunately
I do you think it's going to end in uh
some tear gas or something there's no
other what other options do they have
there's no other way to clear people out
if you're going to barricade yourself
inside of the hall like what are you
going to do and especially if they start
vandalizing which they already did you
know to get in there you could just you
know do what students want you to do
which is to divest mean that's other
thing is I know I know but that's not
going to happen seem to understand that
but why not because there was a vote at
Columbia Barnard and it was overwhelming
in favor of div the students don't
control the endowment yeah but like if
you have faculty and students or over
overwhelmingly like just do this thing
then why not just do that thing and then
you won't have your hall occupied and
you won't have to send in the cops Etc
but you know I think bottom line is like
I said these students have already been
kicked out of school and arrested so
they're not afraid have we don't we
don't really know here's but I also
would say this don't throw your future
away for this I know some of these
protesters please don't do this your
parents spend a lot of money on I
disagree with that you want to get your
ass expelled like this what are you
gonna do 20 years from now these are
people who have agency and who feel like
they're standing against a genocide and
I I can't I I'm proud of them I think
it's incredible to watch 20 years from
now you'll be a footnote to history
you're G to be in some idiot on YouTube
a mon talking about you're not going to
have a degree away a bunch of money
there are more things to achieve in life
than like getting your startup funded or
getting hired by Wall Street the only
thing you do you can be a teacher you
know it's about basic these are yes
these are young people but they're also
adults and they're also perfectly
capable of making their own decisions
about what's important to them in their
lives and the way that they want to live
they're not buying into this crop this
part of actually what's in my monologue
they're not buying into this crop about
the only success that matters is success
in terms of a capitalist Marketplace
they have values those values are
important to them they're willing to I
think it's incredibly admirable that
they're willing to sacrifice in many
instances for people they don't know and
will never meet like that's
extraordinary and I think it's Brave I
think they're to be commended not you
know scolded for making the wrong life
decisions I'm not going to scold anybody
youing them I'm I'm telling you I
wouldn't do it and I'm sitting here as a
32y old doing it you didn't do and I
would I will promise you that 10 years
ago nobody remembers a [ __ ] thing
that I said and there's a good reason
for that and I hope that they don't but
you do no I certainly do but but I
regret a lot of it too and they will
know when they're old and gray and they
look back and everyone else is
pretending to have been on the right
side they will know where they were and
they will know what they can tell their
kids about what they did that's not
going to feed you or your kids I mean
ask some of these Vietnam War people how
it all worked out for them in 19 what is
it 19 that's 20 years later so
1988 we elected Reagan you know we had
IR Contra and all that like did it
really make a difference what happened
to a lot of those folks not much petered
out Nixon got elected Law and Order Sky
High murder rates mostly backfire it's
such a cynical view of the world though
to say like basically nothing matters no
protest matters you're you know your
genuine concern about this your protest
of the government you're disrupting
political speeches nothing you do
matters so just like go out and get your
bag I think that's I think that's a
really
cynical disturbing view of the world not
nothing matters but a very little does
matter listen we here's the bottom line
we know what will happen if these
protests don't proceed if these kids
don't risk the things that they're
risking that again I think they should
be absolutely commended for we know what
will happen absolutely nothing we don't
know what will happen if they try and
we've seen at least that there's been
some pressure placed on the
administration and I think that's
important and we we see globally this is
another thing I have in my monologue we
see that the people in Gaza see them
these Palestinians in Gaza are being
starved to death and threatened with
bombing and the entire male population
and rafan now basically threatened with
execution and murder they see these
protest and it means something to them I
mean that alone is I think significant
and important and see the way that
International PR I mean you see the way
Netanyahu is kind of freaking out about
the fact that there's International
pressure and these students are part of
that larger movement so yeah there are
no guarantees here you're right there
was a backlash to the Vietnam War
protesters and you're right that could
happen again but we know damn well what
happens if these kids do nothing and
that is the status quo perseveres
Palestinians are probably you know
kicked down of their land alt together
continue to be murdered continue to be
slaughtered we know that's what happens
if they don't protest they think there's
a chance they could change something and
I applaud them for doing it they may be
right I think they're wrong I think it's
a misreading of history and of power and
of how that all works now again I'm I
would take it back I don't want to scold
people I would only give you some advice
that when you're very young it can be
really easy to get caught up in whatever
the current thing of the day is I'm
trying to think back from 2012 or
Whatever Whenever were whenever I was in
college DACA that was a big one all
right people march for DACA all the this
was all over sorry you know look it
ended up working out nothing like I'm
just I'm just asking people to have a
little bit of historical literacy and to
be mindful that actions are going to
have consequence now you're an adult you
do whatever you want to do and I support
your right to do that and I've spoken
here openly I support people's right to
protest and all that I would just
caution folks to not get caught up into
thinking you know this ain't 1966 and
Selma Alabama and all that and there's
too often you know lack of thinking