As colleges and universities around the U.S. begin classes this fall, many students are resuming protests to voice their concerns about the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Student leaders are also concerned about the crackdown many school administrations are leveling at those exercising their right to free speech and freedom of assembly.
Final Call Staff Writer Anisah Muhammad recently interviewed Victoria Hinckley, 22, who was a senior at the University of South Florida when she was suspended and then expelled for participating in demonstrations. Below are edited excerpts from written responses from Ms. Hinckley about her ordeal and what students are demanding.
Anisah Muhammad (AM): I read that you were expelled from the University of South Florida for participating in the protest encampment. Could you share some of that experience and what you’re doing now?
Victoria Hinckley (VH): The University of South Florida (USF) expelled me for participating in my solidarity encampment for Gaza that my chapter of Students for a Democratic Society organized.
On the second day of our encampment, April 29th, USF admin tear-gassed and shot rubber bullets at protesters ultimately arresting 13 people across both days and charging multiple students with code of conduct charges.
On April 29th, USF trespassed me from campus and suspended me, along with charging me with six falsified alleged student conduct violations where they alleged that I was creating a dangerous environment on campus despite them calling six jurisdictions of police on campus to brutalize and arrest students.
After the code of conduct hearing where the school essentially puts on a kangaroo court to investigate itself, they decided to expel me for standing against their investment of the genocide of Palestinians.
Since then, Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society, as well as National Students for a Democratic Society, have launched a campaign to Defend Student Protest for Palestine.
Our demands are to reverse my expulsion, stop the suspension of Joseph Charry, for USF to stop its attacks on the student movement, and for USF to disclose and divest immediately.
AM: Why are students protesting? What is the end goal? What are the demands on the colleges and universities?
VH: Students began protesting last spring and setting up solidarity encampments for Gaza, to stand against the ongoing genocide in Palestine, to stand in solidarity with the struggle Palestine is waging for its liberation, and to demand divestment from their schools. Many students’ end goal is for divestment and for an ultimate free Palestine in our lifetime.
Many students realize that without U.S. aid to Israel, this genocide would not be happening, so we know that if we demand an end to that through divestment, which we can have a direct impact on, then we can demand an end to the genocide.
AM: Colleges and universities across the country issued sanctions and punished students who were protesting. Do you see students resuming protests this fall semester?
VH: Students across the country are continuing the student intifada this fall semester. They witnessed the intense political repression that university administration waged on students, and it showed them that admin is scared and vulnerable because they saw the power students held at our encampment, and they know if we keep the pressure on admin to divest and to give in to our demands that we can win.
AM: What is driving students to continue despite their schools punishing them?
VH: Another thing that is driving students to continue protesting this fall is the steadfastness of the Palestinian resistance. We are seeing the struggle for liberation and for self-determination … and we are not only standing with them, but we are demanding things of our own institutions in this struggle.
The resistance is making constant victories every day against the Zionist occupation despite their people going through a genocide. The least we can do is to stand up for what is right here in the U.S. and to stand on the right side of history with Palestine.
AM: Have you been a part of any protests so far this fall?
VH: I have not been able to go to any on-campus protests this fall as they trespassed me from campus, however, I attended the March on the DNC earlier this August and am planning on going to every off-campus action that I can. I plan on continuing my organizing despite the political repression my school is facing me with.
AM: How have you seen schools respond to student protests, in particular, during the start of the fall semester? Have you seen schools in the area issue any additional sanctions?
VH: At USF, they have proposed new policies in response to our encampment. These policies are severe violations of our first amendment rights to protest and to free speech.
The policies aim to suppress student organizations and to keep students from protesting on campus, which is highly illegal. Our SDS chapter was recently expelled from the University of South Florida. They told us we can’t meet and we can’t have protests which we know is an absolute violation of our right to free speech and we plan on fighting this repression as well.
AM: Are there any other issues outside of Gaza that students are also protesting? Are there any concerns that the university will push back or punish students who take a stand for not just Gaza but other issues?
VH: Before our encampment, my chapter was fighting to Defend Diversity on campus in lieu of (Florida Governor Ron) DeSantis’ HB999, which prohibits funding to diversity-related programs.
Because of protests we had for this, SDS was charged with multiple code of conduct violations, putting us on conduct probation even before our encampment. This shows that our administration is targeting student organizers for speaking up against the attacks against diversity and also against Palestine.
