Students at Arizona State University reportedly held anti-Israel demonstrations on campus Friday.
Videos shared by local free speech advocate Ann Atkinson on X show students yelling “Free, Free, Free Palestine” on the Old Main Lawn, which was covered in tents, signs, and protesters.
BREAKING – ASU students are reporting what appears to be anti-Israel demonstrations setting up on ASU’s Old Main lawn, across the street from the Presidents office.
How will ASU handle this? Will the demonstrations remain peaceful or will they draw inspiration from the ivy… pic.twitter.com/OPj0KnPGMr
Arizona State police handcuffed multiple people amid the protest. Protesters started to form a group in front of Old Main near College Avenue and University Drive on the ASU campus around 9 a.m.
ASU prohibits encampments on property that are outside of university-sanctioned activity.
“Individuals found setting up unapproved encampments will be directed to dismantle them immediately,” an ASU spokesperson told ABC15. “Failure to comply may result in being trespassed from campus and possible arrest. We prioritize the safety and well-being of the campus community and uphold policies to ensure a welcoming environment for everyone.
When police first approached the scene Friday morning and ordered the students to stop protesting, demonstrators chanted, “Hey Hey, ho ho, those damn pigs have got to go.”
Arizona State University joined various universities and other academic groups in issuing a statement in support of Israel in October following the initial Hamas attack, which killed around 1,200 Israelis and foreigners.
“We are horrified and sickened by the brutality and inhumanity of Hamas,” the statement read.
The protestors issued a list of demands asking the university to change its pro-Israel stance.
Here is the list of demands from the protesters: they want ASU to cut all ties with Israel and for ASU president Michael Crow to resign pic.twitter.com/bwvuxKopwi
Demands included asking ASU to issue an official statement condemning the zionist genocide of Palestinians; disclosing all investments made with student money; divesting from companies tied to Israel or complicit in the occupation of Gaza; ending partnerships with groups tied to Israel; providing amnesty for students and faculty disciplined for supporting Palestine; and ending investigations on pro-Palestinian groups.
The protestors demanded that ASU President Michael Crow immediately resign and called for the ASU police to be abolished.
Atkinson suggested that protesters may have wanted to clash with the police.
“Current reporting indicates the protesters did not follow basic rules and are being accused of trespassing,” she said on X. “You would think organizers of a protest like this, which is supported by some ASU faculty and community organizers, and is also set up across the street from the university presidents office, would be smart enough to follow the rules. Perhaps their objective was a conflict with police.”
ASU is one of many schools to face unlawful anti-Israel protests from students.
More than 100 students were arrested last Thursday at Columbia University. Since then hundreds of students have set up similar encampments from California to Massachusetts.
Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill organized tents, tarps, and air mattresses in a central courtyard, while students at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan set up an encampment Thursday inside the college’s Goldman Center.
Police arrested 36 people Thursday night when hundreds of Ohio State University students, faculty, and community members set up tents outside the student union. Almost 60 were arrested after protests at the University of Texas.
Elizabeth Troutman is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send her news tips using this link.
Arizona government officials are taking action against organized retail theft in their state.
Earlier this month, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1411, which “creates the Organized Retail Theft Task Force to combat organized retail theft by collaborating with law enforcement agencies, investigating cases of organized retail theft and making recommendation for legislative action to combat retail theft” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives.
Senate Republicans are championing legislation to fight the growing trend of organized retail theft. SB 1411, sponsored by @AZDavidGowan, was signed into law this week!
The bill’s sponsor, Senator David Gowan, cheered on the signing of his proposal, writing, “Just last week, three people were arrested for a retail theft spree across Phoenix and Tucson that totaled around $500,000 in stolen merchandise. This type of criminal activity is on the rise, especially in Democrat-controlled states with soft on crime attitudes, and we must create laws to help law enforcement crack down on it. Thankfully, my bill SB 1411, which establishes a task force to combat crimes that relate to stealing, embezzling or obtaining retail merchandise by fraud, false pretenses, or other illegal means for the purposes of reselling the items, was signed into law. The task force will be comprised of federal, state, and local law enforcement, in order to use their combined skills, expertise, and resources more effectively. It will also create a system for law enforcement to work together to fight this criminal activity.
Gowan added, “I’m happy to support our small and large business owners with this measure. Republicans are committed to preventing this nasty trend we’re watching explode in California from exploding in Arizona too.”
SB 1411 “instructs the Attorney General to establish the Organized Retail Theft Task Force to combat crimes related to stealing, embezzling or obtaining retail merchandise by fraud, false pretenses or other illegal means for the purpose of reselling the items.” It also “requires the Attorney General to invite federal, state and local law enforcement personnel to participate in the Task Force to enhance the efficiency of law enforcement agencies.”
In March, the State Senate overwhelmingly passed the legislation with a bipartisan 22-4 vote (with four members not voting). After being transmitted across the courtyard at the Arizona Capitol, the bill was approved by the State House with a 43-16 tally (with one vacant seat) earlier this month. Hobbs signed the proposal on April 16.
State Senator Janae Shamp and State Representative Justin Wilmeth, both Republicans, were cosponsors of the bill.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, representatives from the Arizona Retailers Association, Arizona Attorney General’s Office, Arizona Food Marketing Alliance, National Federation of Independent Business, Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, CVS Health, and Quiktrip endorsed the legislation.
SB 1411 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature adjourns for 2024.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Another legislative solution to protect Arizona women and girls was vetoed by the state’s Democrat governor.
This week, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1182, which would have “mandate[d] a public school provide a reasonable accommodation to a person who is unwilling or unable to use a multioccupancy shower room designated for the person’s sex, [and] provide[d] private cause of action to an individual who is denied a reasonable accommodation or who encounters a person of the opposite sex in a public school multioccupancy shower room as specified” – according to the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives.
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Katie Hobbs, Arizona Democrat Lawmakers Support Girls Being Forced to Shower with Boys in Public Schools pic.twitter.com/cpx2noqoyv
In her veto letter, Hobbs was brief in her explanation to Senate President Warren Petersen, writing, “As I have said time and time again, I will not sign legislation that attacks Arizonans.”
Senator John Kavanagh, the bill’s sponsor, was irate about the governor’s action. He stated, “Girls should not be forced to shower with boys in our taxpayer-funded public schools. It’s utterly disgusting that Democrats, who are out-of-touch with reality, continue to push gender neutrality upon our children, endangering their safety and well-being just to politically platform off a small population they pretend to care about. All students, not just transgender kids, deserve to feel safe and deserve to have privacy when they’re naked in a shower. This was a reasonable bill that a majority of Arizonans agree with.”
The longtime northeast valley lawmaker added, “Unfortunately, because of this partisan driven veto by our Governor, our daughters, granddaughters, nieces, and neighbors will continue to be subjected to not only embarrassment, but sexual assaults and harassment in the event a boy who’s claiming to be a girl is allowed into their female-only showers. I encourage Arizona parents, women, and girls to reach out to the Governor and our Democrat state lawmakers and demand they respect their privacy rights. Change will only happen if we continue to speak out and push back against these injustices our women and girls continue to endure at the hands of Arizona Democrats.”
When the legislation was considered before the full Senate chamber in February, it passed along partisan lines, 16-13 (with one member not voting). After the proposal was transmitted to the House, it was approved 31-28 (with one vacancy) earlier this month – also along partisan lines. Since it was amended in the House, the bill made its way back over to the Senate for concurrence, receiving a 16-14 green light.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from the Center for Arizona Policy endorsed the legislation. Representatives from Stand for Children, Arizona Education Association, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Save Our Schools Arizona, Arizona School Boards Association, Arizona Center for Women’s Advancement, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Council of Jewish Women Arizona, Children’s Action Alliance, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, Stonewall Democrats of Arizona, the City of Tucson, and Human Rights Campaign, signed in to oppose the bill.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
An Arizona Legislative Republican solution to assist homebuilding in the state was signed into law.
Earlier this week, Governor Katie Hobbs signed SB 1162, which “establishes requirements relating to zoning ordinances and a housing needs assessment” – per the overview from the Arizona House of Representatives.
🚨 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Republicans Cut Local Government Red Tape to Speed Up Homebuilding and Lower Prices for Hardworking Arizonans pic.twitter.com/YwLWeTkwiD
According to the press release from the Arizona State Senate Republicans, the legislation “cuts the unnecessary government red tape, responsible for prolonging approvals on zoning applications needed for home construction to begin, by requiring local governments adhere to reasonable timelines to help expedite the homebuilding process in an effort to increase supply and lower prices.” It would also require “cities and towns to conduct and publish a housing needs study every five years to proactively assess current and anticipated demand for homes in order to swiftly respond to housing shortages.”
Senator Janae Shamp, the bill’s sponsor, cheered on the success of her proposal, writing, “Every hardworking citizen within the state of Arizona should be able to afford a home in a safe community. Unfortunately, the American dream of homeownership has become unattainable for many Arizonans over the past five years because of increased demand combined with irresponsible actions from local governments. Republicans at the Arizona Legislature are committed to solving Arizona’s housing shortage crisis, and this is just a small piece of the puzzle. Government helped create this problem, and we will continue to craft policy getting government out of the way so the free market can respond to our citizens’ needs.”
Shamp thanked one of her legislative partners in this specific effort and promised more action on behalf of Arizonans. She said, “I want to thank Representative Matt Gress for working on this legislation with me, and I look forward to taking additional action with Republican lawmakers to offset the crippling inflation Arizonans are struggling with under the Biden Administration.”
SB 1162 will go into effect 90 days after the Arizona Legislature adjourns for the 2024 session.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Arizona’s Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction is standing up for an in-state university in a battle against the federal government.
This week, Arizona’s school’s chief, Tom Horne, sent a letter to Secretary Miguel Cardona of the U.S. Department of Education, urging the agency head to “change [his] position on Grand Canyon University (GCU) and come to a satisfactory resolution.”
Earlier this month, Cardona said of his department’s efforts over GCU: “Going after predatory schools preying on first generation students. They have flashy marketing materials, but the product is not worth the paper it is printed on. Increased enforcement budget to go after these folks and crack down. Levied largest fine in history against a school that lied about costs and terminated a school from Title IX. We are cracking down not only to shut them down, but to send a message not to prey on schools.”
Horne reminded Cardona of a 2023 letter that he had transmitted, asking for his department to “sit down with Grand Canyon University and work out any differences.” He explained that GCU was “a major ally to my effort to raise academics in Arizona schools, and any harm you do to them would do harm to my goal of academic excellence.” The Superintendent added that there was a “severe teacher shortage in Arizona, and the elimination of GCU would be a severe blow.”
In his latest letter, Horne informed the high-ranking cabinet member that “GCU reports that they have asked your department for evidence of intent and verified student complaints regarding the accusation your department is making, and you have refused to provide that information.”
As he wrapped up his letter, Horne wrote, “in the U.S., anyone accused of wrongdoing is presumed innocent and entitled to their day in court. For a Cabinet-level official, one who is sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution, your threat against GCU is contrary to those constitutional guarantees and unworthy of your position. It is unwarranted, unjust and the latest episode of harassment against this school by the federal government.”
The state school’s chief concluded by asserting that Cardona had, so far, “chosen to be unreasonable” in his approach and actions against GCU.
In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Education fined GCU $37.7 million, accusing the university of lying “to more than 7,500 former and current students about the cost of its doctoral programs over several years.” Richard Cordray, the Chief Operating Officer of the Department’s Office of Federal Student Aid, said, “Today, we are holding GCU accountable for its actions, protecting students and taxpayers, and upholding the integrity of the federal student aid programs.”
GCU responded to the recent comments by the U.S. Education Secretary, stating, “GCU has been asked repeatedly why it believes it is being targeted by federal agencies of the Biden Administration. Here’s what we can tell you: Mr. Cardona’s inflammatory comments make very clear the Department of Education’s intentions and their disdain for institutions that do not fit their ideological agenda. What’s also clear is that ED has no lawful grounds to carry out those intentions based on their disingenuous and factually unsupportable allegations.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
A Republican State Senator is speaking out against the Arizona governor’s decision to veto one of his education-related bills.
Last week, Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB 1151, which would have allowed state teachers or administrators in all schools to “read or post copies or excerpts of the Ten Commandments.”
Hobbs, in a veto letter to Senate President Warren Petersen, explained that she had “serious concerns about the constitutionality of this legislation,” adding that she also felt it “is also unnecessary.”
The sponsor of the bill, Senator Anthony Kern, expressed his outrage over the governor’s action, writing, “I’m appalled the state’s top elected official is abandoning God and the very foundation our country was built upon by not allowing teachers to expose their students to the morals and ethics outlined in the Ten Commandments. When you look at some of the garbage being forced on our children in the classroom, it’s no wonder rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide among youth are at their highest levels ever recorded. When children are exposed to good, noble, honest, and righteous ideas, they are more prone to being better human beings with sound character, able to navigate life’s problems with grace, and have a greater chance of treating each other with respect and dignity throughout life. Sadly, Katie Hobbs’ veto is a prime example of Democrats’ efforts to push state-sponsored atheism while robbing Arizona’s children of the opportunity to flourish with a healthy moral compass.”
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, the proposal drew a significant amount of opposition, including representatives from the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, Arizona Education Association, American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, Save Our Schools Arizona, Arizona School Boards Association, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
SB 1151 had first passed the State Senate in February with a 16-12 vote (with two members not voting), before being approved in the State House earlier this month with a 31-28 tally (with one member not voting).
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
