VCU students demand changes from officials amid countrywide detentions and deportations

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) students are demanding that university officials make changes amid detention and deportations of student protesters across the country.

VCU was one of many universities and colleges across Virginia that made changes to demonstration policies after students and police clashed at pro-Palestinian protests last year.

In a press conference, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) claimed the university is infringing on their First Amendment rights.

“Academic institutions, which should be spaces for critical thought and free expression, are instead being transformed into battlegrounds of suppression,” said VCU student and SJP member Sereen Haddad.

The groups list of demands include:

• Resist fascist attacks & establish VCU as a sanctuary campus
• Reject anti-Palestinian conditions for continued federal funding
• Disclose & Divest now
• Push war profiteers off campus
• Democratize university decision-making, investment and policy

“Our university must end all institutional relationships and partnerships with companies and organizations that engage with the Zionist entity, such as internship programs, police department ties, recruitment events and more,” said VCU student and SJP member Christina Sayegh.

VCU responded to the students' demands, saying, “We do not have anything to share on this student event.”

8News asked Haddad if she worries about potential deportations of student protesters after recent acts at other universities.

 “VCU does have a choice to comply with the demands or to not comply with the demands. We are with the people. The people united will never be defeated. So, what happens in the future is up to VCU,” Haddad said.