Anarchists at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. have called for the beheadings of school administrators as part of their anti-Israel encampment. A video posted on social media showed demonstrators calling for the use of a guillotine on GW President Ellen Granberg and other school administrators, with some specifically targeting Provost Christopher Alan Bracey. At least 35 people were arrested on campus, and some members of the encampment held a mock court hearing to decide the fate of the administrators.
The incident was recorded on Instagram Live on May 3 and resurfaced on social media. In the video, an encampment leader rendered a fake verdict as a proxy for Bracey sat before them. The mock court continued with verdicts for GWU’s board of trustees and the school’s president, with individuals shouting for each to be beheaded. The agitators caused chaos on campus and resisted police efforts to restore order, with officers using pepper spray to clear the crowd.
The encampment at GWU’s U-Yard displayed Palestinian flags, defaced a statue of George Washington with Palestinian iconography, and erected an American flag with the words “Genocide Joe” on it. The protesters held a “People’s Tribunal,” putting school administrators, police, and others on trial. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and police chief Pamela Smith are expected to testify before the House Oversight Committee to discuss the anti-Israel demonstration and potential safety concerns on campus, following criticism for not responding to the university’s request for help.
Wednesday marked the 14th day of the encampment, with the House Oversight Committee planning to hold a hearing on steps being taken to address the unlawful activity at GWU. The hearing, titled “Oversight of D.C.’s Response to Unlawful Activity and Antisemitism,” is set to begin at 1 p.m. EST and will seek answers from local leaders regarding their actions in response to the protests. The University has faced disruptions and calls for violence against school administrators as part of the ongoing anti-Israel encampment.
