Protestors Demand More, Gain Little

On the recent anniversary of the infamous May 1^st pro-Palestinian encampment arrests, the Palestinian Solidarity Coalition (PSC) organized a protest at Parkhurst Hall. They boast what they see as a successful win, particularly in advancing immigration protections. In reality, recent pro-Palestinian efforts have changed virtually nothing in terms of college policy, while they have completely changed the campus’s sympathy toward the protestors and their movement as a whole.

From May 1^st, through the night, and until the rain started on May 2^nd, the PSC’s protest consisted of around 40, perhaps 50 radical and vocal pro-Palestinian activists (more accurately anti-Israeli activists). The protest consisted of hijacking the area in front of Parkhurst with tents, chalking the sidewalks, screaming from megaphones, chalking the building, putting 10,000 ladybugs into a few of the bathrooms, and flying two large Palestinian flags from the building. There were peaceful aspects of the protest as well, but, thanks to the nature of most of their actions, no one remembers what those were. While not included in the protest directly, leading up to May 1^st, Palestinian activists decided to intimidate Dimensions students through chalking (the first date) and the vandalism of Dartmouth Hall with red paint (the second date).

The “win” that they supposedly acquired through all these actions was not even related to their movement. Two things took place. First, it is now codified in college policy that ICE may not enter private spaces without a warrant. Second, the College’s immigration legal fund had its upper limit (for special cases) raised to $5,000. The standard amount of funding per person, $2,000, did not change. 

At first glance, this might seem positive. Although I would argue that an undefined upper limit for special circumstances might have been more beneficial. If there truly were issues (as there were a few months ago with a few students), it is likely the College would have funded even more than $5,000 had this recent “win” not been achieved. As it relates to the recent codification of ICE as unwelcome in private campus areas, this is completely symbolic. Dartmouth’s doors have not been open for federal agents to peek around. This is a lie that has been continuously pushed by the Student Worker Collective at Dartmouth (SWCD). Unfortunately for the union, the SWCD is going to have to promote a different lie and/or irrelevant issue in its unnecessary provocations of DDS and the College.

While a few minor “accomplishments” were achieved through these protests, the unfortunate reality for the PSC and its activists is that they lost an incredible amount of support following these recent events. From the Dimensions intimidation to the childish behavior of May 1^st, the campus saw the movement for what it is: one of violence. While likely nobody’s opinions on Israel-Palestine changed (although it’s possible Palestine lost some support), the campus’s sympathy toward protesters, particularly those arrested last year, disappeared. Evidence of this can certainly be found on Fizz, although the conversations of passersby were strikingly unsympathetic. Ultimately, these protesters are people who do not wish to convince and certainly not debate. They purposefully break rules, intimidate, and yet demand change. 

May 1^st was a gigantic loss for the PSC and the pro-Palestinian activists overall. If I were a pro-Palestinian activist trying to truly make a difference on campus, I would work with campus organizations to hold pro-Palestinian speakers, as well as organize debates with students of a pro-Israeli stance. Rather than act like children, the PSC and its associated activists should consider productive ways to regain campus support for their movement.