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Temple suspends pro-Palestinian group after four people arrested at protest – NBC10 Philadelphia

After Temple University suspended one of its student groups following a protest that ended with four arrests and allegations of police brutality, the school is meeting with a Muslim civil rights and advocacy group.

The Temple chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine was suspended after the group protested at a Temple University Engineering School career fair in the Howard Gittis Student Center on Sept. 26.

The aim of the protest was to demonstrate at the career fair against some vendors who the group believes have ties to violence in Gaza.

Two women, one of whom is a recent high school graduate and an SJP member, have been arrested and accuse Temple University police and the Philadelphia Police Department of brutalizing and humiliating them.

“During my arrest at the career fair, a male Temple police officer groped my chest and pulled on it, dragging me toward my own arrest,” said Alia Amanpour, one of the protesters.

Johara Shamaa, another protester, said a Philadelphia police officer ripped off her hijab, a religious head covering. She claims she wasn't allowed to wear it during her booking photo or during her 20-hour detention.

“Even after I repeatedly explained to officials the significance of my religious clothing, they mocked me and denied me the right to cover myself,” Shamaa said. “Even though I was crying and shaking, a male officer then proceeded to take my mugshot without my hijab.”

Philadelphia police said they allowed the woman to wear her hijab in public areas in front of men during her booking.

SJP covered the protest and arrests on Instagram and posted videos showing the events.

Their post stated that the protesters left the career fair of their own accord and that neither Temple nor Philadelphia police issued a dispersal warning. In the post, they claim officers began “attacking protesters” and “brutalizing” them.

Temple University's Department of Public Safety released a statement on social media regarding the arrests, saying that Temple University officers had body-worn cameras that they used to record the events and that they did so together with cameras in the building and checking witness statements.

After their review, the TUDPS said: “There is no evidence that the police removed a hijab. “On the contrary, the person was assisted by TUPD and a fellow student when the hijab slipped from her hair.”

TUDPS also said there was no evidence that anyone was groped or that anyone's breasts were exposed.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Philadelphia chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Philadelphia) held a press conference to call on the Temple Police Department, the Philadelphia Police Department and the mayor's office to open an investigation into allegations that the woman was killed during the Hijab was taken off and arrested.

“Temple University’s inappropriate response last week highlights the larger landscape of escalating hostility toward Muslim students and community members,” said Adam Alaa Attia of CAIR-Philadelphia.

CAIR officials and university leaders have scheduled a meeting for Thursday.

TUPD said they arrested four people and are working with the district attorney's office to charge them with disorderly conduct and other related offenses.

They said the evidence they reviewed showed the “protesters illegally disrupted a registered event that was important to hundreds of students.” They also claim the protesters pushed officers and resisted arrest.

The TUPD message came after Temple President Richard Englert posted a message about the protest and arrests on Sept. 26, saying the protesters had violated the school's demonstration policy.

In his statement, the president said: “'University officials or law enforcement officers may move or require the removal of any protester or participant who is deemed to be violating federal, state or local laws and regulations, as well as any policies, rules and regulations of the.” “University violates” and guidelines.'”

“What happened last week was not a peaceful protest. It was a significant disruption to an event that was intended to help students find jobs and internships. As a result of the aggressive protests, several visiting employers were escorted from the venue for their safety and students were denied the opportunity to interact with potential employers – some students left the event altogether,” said a statement released Wednesday evening Statement sent to Temple University.

Temple school officials also said they would encourage anyone with evidence of the allegations made by the protesters to present it to Temple police.

“We have listened to the allegations from our community members. We trust them, we believe them and we will stand by them,” said Attia.

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