(NBC15 News) The president of George Washington University said late Sunday night her school needs the help of local police to restore law and order as anti-Israel encampment activities continue.
GW President Ellen Granberg’s released a statement Sunday denouncing the encampment degeneration over the weekend. Granberg also said the school cannot restore order without the help of Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
“The demonstration, like many around the country, has grown into what can only be classified as an illegal and potentially dangerous occupation of GW property,” Gransberg said. “It is also essential to highlight that at no point was this encampment lawful.”
Gransberg’s campus notice marks the first time GW has publicly sought MPD’s assistance with the encampment.
While acknowledging MPD is providing an increased security presence on and around the occupied portions of the encampment, Gransberg said GW cannot regain campus control on its own.
Social media video surfaced over the weekend of an encampment activity called “People’s Tribunal” where GW protesters acted out sentencing senior university officials to death.
The first official the protesters pretended to sentence was Christopher Alan Bracey, GW’s African American provost.
“Bracey, Bracey we see you,” protesters chanted. “You assault students too.”
As a proxy for Bracey sat in a chair before protesters, an encampment leader rendered the fake verdict.
This mock court was held for GWU’s board of trustees and for the school’s president, shouting for these individuals to be beheaded.
“To the guillotine,” protesters said.
The outside influence factor
In Sunday evening’s notice to GW’s community, Gransberg said her campus is being infiltrated by individuals that are not students.
