At a Gaza solidarity encampment in Northeastern University, "pro-Israel"
counterprotesters shouted "Kill the Jews! Anybody onboard?", acting as
dishonest provocateurs. The encampment responded with shouting and booing.
The university administration soon after cited this as a reason to tear up the
encampment and
arrest the protesters.
They have since tried to bury the crucial distinction between what the Gaza
solidarity protesters said and their adversaries' provocations. That is deceitful.
If I learned I had made a mistake like this, I would be mortified, and I would
do everything possible to unmake it. I would apologize for the arrests, drop
all charges, return or replace any property stolen by cops, and authorize the
reestablishment of the encampment.
Let's not lose sight of
where we want to end up.