CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – UVA faculty members in a virtual town hall said it was the police who rioted and were aggressive Saturday when the pro-Palestinian encampment was broken up… not the students or community members. Many who participated were faculty liaison between protestors and university and police leaders, and one described the atmosphere as “chill” that Saturday morning before police broke up what they described as a peaceful protest.

Global studies professor Dave Edmunds showed video of about a half-dozen faculty there who stood as the first line that police in riot gear pushed when they started to move in. Viewers could see one of the faculty being taken into custody.
Education professor Walt Heinicke described the atmosphere as “chill” as protestors and faculty were sitting and eating bagels Saturday morning when they saw the first police arrive.

The faculty members were not familiar with “four dangerous people” UVA Police Chief Tim Longo described. Global studies professor Laura Goldblatt said there were indeed people in the encampment who were not students, who included people with histories of social justice actions who were invited there. She noted the University has been involved in an effort to reach out to community members.