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Emerson Urging DA to Not Charge Protesters ‘Rewards Their Disruptive Conduct,’ ADL Leader Says

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 10:36 am | 2 Minute Read

Workers take down a Palestinian flag April 25 after police broke up a student’s encampment at the alleyway location near Emerson College, in Boston. (Craig Walker/The Boston Globe via AP)

BOSTON (Boston Herald/TNS) — The head of the Anti-Defamation League is calling out Emerson College’s president for his handling of the pro-Palestinian protests, saying the president’s urging the DA to not pursue charges “rewards their disruptive conduct.”

Boston police officers last month arrested 118 pro-Palestinian protesters at the tent encampment in Boylston Place Alley after the campus had warned the demonstrators they were violating city ordinances.

Following those arrests and arraignments, Emerson President Jay Bernhardt announced that the college would not bring any campus disciplinary charges against the protesters — and the college would encourage the Suffolk DA to not seek charges related to the encampment.

A week after the Emerson leader declared that about the protesters, the Anti-Defamation League’s leader on Monday called him out.

“The President of Emerson is going out of his way to make sure students who broke the law and violated Emerson’s own policies face no consequences,” ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a statement to the Boston Herald.

“This capitulates to the most extreme voices and rewards their disruptive conduct,” Greenblatt added. “The Emerson community deserves better. ADL calls upon the President of Emerson to reverse this decision and urges the Suffolk District Attorney to enforce the law.”

Last month following the arrests, the Emerson student arraignments were continued for 4 months — and the protesters were ordered to perform 40 hours of community service.

“If they comply they will not be arraigned,” a Suffolk DA spokesperson said in a statement. “This is consistent with how we have handled prior protest cases.”

The Herald reached out to Emerson in response to the ADL CEO’s statement.

“While we do not condone the breaking of laws of this encampment and support the City’s right to remove the tents, Emerson College supports the right of our students to peacefully protest,” the college said in a statement on Monday.

“Arrested students have been held accountable by the courts with required community service,” the college added. “Emerson is firmly committed to combating antisemitism in all its forms and has used many resources from the ADL to support our efforts.”