Connect with us

Pennsylvania

Pro-Palestinian protesters remain on University of Pennsylvania's campus despite warnings to disband

Published

on

Pro-Palestinian protesters remain on University of Pennsylvania's campus despite warnings to disband


PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — It’s been more than 24 hours since the University of Pennsylvania called for a group of pro-Palestinian protestors to pack up and leave campus.

The encampment includes both students and outside demonstrators. Organizers say they aren’t going anywhere.

“We have three demands and we will not be leaving until those demands are met,” explained Emma Herndon, a student organizer of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.

On Thursday, a rally at City Hall led the group to the University of Pennsylvania campus where they set up camp.

Advertisement

“Our demands are to disclose the university endowment, to divest from Israeli, and defend voices of pro-Palestine voices on campus,” explained Herndon.

On Friday, Penn’s interim president called for the group to disband.

“Failure to disband the encampment immediately and to adhere to Penn’s policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures as they apply to students, faculty, and staff,” expressed Interim President J. Larry Jameson in a letter to the community.

WATCH | Penn’s interim president warns pro-Palestinian protesters to disband encampment immediately

Penn’s interim president warns pro-Palestinian protesters to disband encampment immediately

Advertisement

“As students and as members of the Philadelphia community we have rights to protest and take a space on this campus,” said Herndon.

The letter, however, mentions credible reports of harassment and intimidation, which have been documented.

It goes on to mention the encampment itself violates the university’s facilities policies and certain actions by some protestors violate Penn’s open expression guidelines as well as state and federal law.

“I support the right for people to protest always as they should have. I think it brings in a lot of outsider antagonists,” explained one Penn student to Action News.

Students want campus life to return to what it was, while university officials say maintaining a safe inclusive campus is a priority.

Advertisement

“The general feeling on campus is obviously we want no violence but somehow they’re gonna have to move,” a student said.

Meanwhile, Jewish students from neighboring schools are concerned.

“If you’re going to make intense claims you have to stand behind it. I’m letting them see me. It’s making a lot of bold claims with a lot of fear goals rather than trying to spread a message of hope for something better,” said Daniel Nahamo, a Drexel student.

A ‘Say No to Hate’ rally is planned for Sunday in support of the Jewish community.

Read the full letter sent to the Penn community on Friday:

Advertisement

“To the Penn community,

At Penn, we pursue our academic mission guided by fundamental commitments to upholding freedom of inquiry and open expression, while maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful campus community.

Over the last 24 hours, we have closely monitored the protest that evolved into an encampment on College Green. We have vigilantly supported the rights of our community members to protest peacefully. Representatives from Open Expression, University Life, and faculty leadership have engaged with some of the protestors, with limited access to the broader group.

Unfortunately, blatant violations of University policies and credible reports of harassing and intimidating conduct compel us to protect the safety and security of our campus community.

The encampment itself violates the University’s facilities policies. The harassing and intimidating comments and actions by some of the protesters, which were reported and documented by many in our community, violate Penn’s open expression guidelines and state and federal law, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. All members of our community deserve to access our facilities without fear of harassment or being subjected to discriminatory comments or threats.

Advertisement

The vandalism of the statue in front of College Hall with antisemitic graffiti was especially reprehensible and will be investigated as a hate crime.

As we have repeatedly emphasized, we will uphold free speech and the productive exchange of ideas, but we will not allow any actions that harass, threaten, or intimidate others. We have also said that the safety of our community is paramount, and we will live up to our commitment.

I am deeply saddened and troubled that our many efforts to respectfully engage in discourse, support open expression, and create a community that is free of hate and inclusive for everyone have been ignored by those who choose to disrupt and intimidate.

We have notified the protestors of their legal and policy violations. Failure to disband the encampment immediately and to adhere to Penn’s policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures as they apply to students, faculty, and staff.”

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Pennsylvania

Bill would create alert when children with autism go missing in Pennsylvania

Published

on

Bill would create alert when children with autism go missing in Pennsylvania


(WHTM) — Legislation is in the works for a statewide warning system to locate missing children with autism.

State Rep. Robert Leadbeter (R-Columbia County) announced the formal introduction of a bill to create a “Purple Alert” system. It would quickly notify police and community members when a child with autism, or other cognitive issues, is missing.

His bill is called “Aiden’s Law,” named for a young boy in Columbia County, who disappeared earlier this year and drowned in the Susquehanna River. Leadbeter said a “Purple Alert” system would fill a gap in Pennsylvania.

“So, individuals with cognitive disabilities are able to then, if they go missing, have an alert go out to law enforcement organizations that work directly with them and that’ll save time expand resources, and ideally result in a safe return home for the missing individual,” Leadbeter said.

Advertisement

In this bill, the system would mirror others like Amber Alerts for missing children in danger and Silver Alerts for missing seniors.



Source link

Continue Reading

Pennsylvania

Bethlehem man sentenced under Pennsylvania’s new AI child porn law

Published

on

Bethlehem man sentenced under Pennsylvania’s new AI child porn law


A Bethlehem man is among the first to be sentenced under a Pennsylvania law passed last year, making it a crime to possess AI-generated child sex abuse material.

On Monday, Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge Kristie M. Marks sentenced 35-year-old Adam Erdman to two years, four months to 10 years.

Erdman in September pleaded guilty to felony possessing child sex abuse material. He faced a possible sentence of 5 to 10 years in prison.

Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced the sentencing in a news conference Monday afternoon. The DA credited U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, who introduced the new legislation and state Sen. Tracy Pennycuick, who championed the final version of the law last year.

Advertisement

“Before this law was passed, the use of AI to generate child sexual abuse materials went unpunished,” Holihan said. “Prosecutors like me need legislation like this to arrest and convict the criminals who use evolving technology to victimize others.”

Macungie-based attorney Michael Ira Stump, representing Erdman, couldn’t immediately be reached for comment Tuesday morning.

Bethlehem police on March 31 were called by Erdman’s estranged wife, who reported finding three AI-generated nude images of juvenile girls on his personal computer.

Prosecutors said Erdman downloaded photos of the children on vacation from their parent’s social media account, and then used artificial intelligence photo-editing software to make the children appear naked.

Erdman was charged on April 17.

Advertisement

The case was investigated by Bethlehem Police Det. Stephen Ewald and was prosecuted by Lehigh County Senior Deputy District Attorney Sarah K. Heimbach.



Source link

Continue Reading

Pennsylvania

Central Pennsylvania awarded over $1M for Chesapeake Bay Watershed conservation

Published

on

Central Pennsylvania awarded over M for Chesapeake Bay Watershed conservation


PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Over $17 million has been awarded to county teams across the Commonwealth for projects in reducing nutrient and sediment pollution in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Grants were awarded to counties with projects taking place over the next 12 to 24 months. Many different human activities cause nutrient pollution and eroded sediment to enter streams, rivers, and lakes. This pollution can come from fertilizer, plowing and tilling farm fields and can cause stripping away of trees and vegetation, and increasing paved surfaces. 

Here are the grants awarded in our area:

  • Blair County Conservation District: $308,095
  • Cambria County Conservation District: $200,000
  • Centre County Government: $566,399
  • Clearfield County Conservation District: $368,209
  • Huntingdon County Conservation District: $409,134

“Pennsylvania’s clean water successes are rooted in collaboration—state, local, federal, legislative, and non-governmental partners, and of course landowners,” Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Secretary Jessica Shirley said. “The work will continue to evolve, and our focus will remain on setting our collaborative partnerships up for success well beyond 2025. The momentum is real, and you can see it in our improved water quality.”

Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters.

In total, 222 projects were approved, and it’s estimated to reduce nitrogen by 113,493 pounds/year, phosphorus by 28,816 pounds/year, and sediment delivered to the Chesapeake Bay by 1.8 million pounds/year.

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading

Trending