FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Texas NAACP and Texas Conference of American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

Contacts: Gary Bledsoe, President, Texas NAACP, gbledsoe@thebledsoelawfirm.com, and Brian Evans, Interim President, Texas AAUP Conference, aaup.texas@gmail.com

The Texas Conference of AAUP and the Texas State Conference of NAACP Branches would like to express alarm at what we have witnessed today at the University of Texas. After a day where students, faculty and staff were denied the right to engage in their desired protests of teach-ins, study sessions and pizza but still engaged in what were apparently peaceful protests from many eye witness accounts, the University has incredibly turned the UT Austin campus into a militarized zone. 

Though we fully respect the need for the campus to maintain security and keep individuals on the campus safe, what we saw today was far beyond that and caused fear and intimidation to many people on the University campus— most of whom were not protestors.  Many students were denied the right to walk across the campus by patrols of State police with automatic weapons and many on horseback, while faculty and staff were forced to remain in buildings that were surrounded by State police and other forces. 

The State Police troops were so intimidating in their appearance and demeanor that many persons were simply afraid to approach them or the lines they formed.  At one point they formed circles around liberal arts buildings on the campus. Instead of trying to assist individuals who were afraid, the guard members said they could not talk while they were on duty or declined to talk altogether.  

There was no University official available to inform people on the campus what they should or should not do, so this created a chaotic situation.  The environment on the campus already feels hostile to many faculty, staff and students and this contributed to that feeling.  Students, as long as they do so within proper constraints, have a Constitutional right to demonstrate. 

The protestors today were mainly students and faculty.  It seems as though a message was sent today with the intent of silencing any kind of protest in the future, letting future organizers know what is in store for you even if it is a peaceful protest that you are undertaking.

April 24, 2024, at 1:25pm, on Speedway on the UT Austin Campus, which is the main north-south thoroughfare through campus:

April 24, 2024, at 2:01pm, Looking South from UT Austin Tower plaza:

April 24, 2024, at 4:49pm, Looking North from Littlefield Fountain, police had cleared all the students, staff, and faculty from the South Mall and occupied all of the green space with more than 100 officers:

From: utsafetyalert@austin.utexas.edu <utsafetyalert@austin.utexas.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 5:18 PM
Subject: UTPD Notice of Dispersal Order

THIS IS A DISPERSAL ORDER FOR OCCUPANTS OF THE SOUTH MALL:

I am Assistant Chief Ashley Griffin and I represent the University of Texas at Austin Police Department. Your conduct is in violation of Penal Code Sections 42.01 Disorderly Conduct, 42.02 Riot, 42.03 Obstructing a Highway or other passageway.

I command you in the name of the People of the State of Texas to disperse, and if you do not, you shall be arrested for Violation of Penal Code Section 42.01 Disorderly Conduct, 42.02 Riot, 42.03 Obstructing a Highway or other passageway.

From: utsafetyalert@austin.utexas.edu <utsafetyalert@austin.utexas.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 9:08 PM
Subject: UPDATE – Dispersal Order has ended

FINAL UPDATE – ALL CLEAR. The dispersal order at the South Mall has ended. All University rules are still in effect.