TEHRAN- American students protesting for divestment from Israel are facing greater levels of violence and disciplinary action compared to their peers who engaged in similar activism in past decades, according to UCLA Professor of Urban Planning and Sociology Chris Tilly. 

Professor Tilly, a longtime activist himself, has spent the past year engaging in dialogue with UCLA students protesting the war in Gaza, listening to their stories and concerns.

The full text of Professor Tilly’s interview with the Tehran Times can be read below: 

What do you believe is the driving force behind the pro-Palestine demonstrations? Do you concur with some American leaders who assert that these protests are rooted in anti-Semitism rather than activism?

I don’t think students are driven by anti-Semitism. Students have always come up with creative ways to protest; ways that have an impact, will make news, attract attention, and get discussion going on campus. Encampments are not entirely new tactics. We had encampments during previous years. At UCLA, for instance, we had encampments in 2011 and before that, there were movements across American universities asking for divestment from South Africa. 
So, encampments are both established and impactful forms of protesting in American universities. It may not be a typical way of protesting but that's the point. Students are saying that there is a genocide going on and that something needs to be done as soon as possible. 

UCLA is believed to have encountered one of the worst cases of violence against students protesting for divestment from Israel. Can you tell us more about that?

 The incident you are referring to happened on the evening of April 30th when outside counter-protestors came in and attacked the encampment. I myself wasn't there at the time but I heard accounts from colleagues and students that were present during the attack. I sense that what happened on April 30 was a total and utter disgrace. It was a disgrace on the part of the university that didn't keep its students safe and also a disgrace on the part of the police who did not intervene for hours when students were getting assaulted. Police only acted when the attackers left and from what I've heard, only one of those attackers has been arrested so far. Not only didn't the university or police effectively act when the attacks happened, but they also did not go after the culprits when the air was clear.

The university and police claim they want to keep the campus safe, but they miserably failed at that on the night of April 30th. 

I understand that investigations and arrests take time, but we are still waiting for action from administrators and law enforcement several months later despite the large number of photos and videos captured during the attack.

 Have university administrators been out of step in their reaction to Gaza solidarity encampments compared to how authorities used to address similar situations in previous years and decades? 

I think the scale of disciplinary action taken against students asking for divestment from Israel has been significantly larger than what we had to face when we were students.  

I went to Harvard College and during the time I was a student there were lots of protests happening. While I myself did not passionately take part in some of them, many of my classmates did. 

While it is true that during the 60s and 70s, universities weren't fond of these protests and actively tried to identify the participants to discipline them, they never did anything quite like the administrators are doing today. There was usually no police violence against the students, and arrests weren't common. 

While the Vietnam War saw tragic incidents of anti-war students being shot and killed by police and the National Guard, thankfully, Gen Z hasn't faced that level of violence. However, the average level of violence they have experienced is arguably higher. University administrators have, overall, reacted to student activism with a more aggressive and repressive approach.

Do you think American public opinion about Israel is beginning to shift? What about the U.S. government’s policies?

The fact that thousands of students have protested Israel and are willing to take risks has already affected public opinion a lot. More people are now reconsidering their support for Israel. But in terms of government policies, sadly things have not changed much. 

The Biden administration has so far made very limited concessions. Kamala Harris might pursue a different stance towards Palestine but it's too early to comment on that. 

But overall, the fact that people are now discussing the Palestinian cause, reading history, and understanding that things did not start on October 7 is very valuable. 

Are there any American university professors and lecturers who are refraining from expressing their opinions on Israeli actions out of concern for potential job consequences?

There are certainly professors who are mobilized across the country and have shown support for the students protesting the war in Gaza. But I'd say professors who have spoken out the most are the ones like me who are tenured professors, which means they are the furthest in their career and are not looking to get promotions. 

Many junior faculty members have spoken out too, but I'd say there are many professors and instructors who prefer not to comment on the situation because they don't want to risk getting fired or facing penalties.

How did you come to support the Palestinian cause? 

When I was a child, my parents were very concerned about social justice, and they taught me and my sisters to have the same concerns about democracy, freedom, and racial justice. 

When I was very young, my parents took me to demonstrations for civil rights in the United States. Later, I participated in demonstrations against the war in Vietnam and then when I got older, I became involved with solidarity for Latin America movements. So, this type of activism is not new for me and has helped me gain a broader perspective with time. 

The first time I learned about Palestine was through a book I picked up at the bookstore in the 1970s. And then I kept learning about Palestine here and there. I would also credit my wife who has an activism history as well. She has visited Palestinian communities within Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza and listened to their concerns.