Contact: Jacob Stewart, Press Secretary
Jacob.Stewart@iga.in.gov
317-232-9498
State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) made the following statement regarding protests at Indiana University Bloomington
STATEHOUSE (May 10, 2024) – "Students should and do have the right to speak about issues they care about. However, universities must maintain a safe environment during protests while making sure all laws are followed.
"At Columbia University and elsewhere, anti-Israel encampments expanded to such a point that protestors, many of whom had no connection to the university, harassed Jewish students, occupied buildings and presented a clear and present safety hazard for both those in the encampment and outside of it.
"Thus, it appears to me that Indiana got something right. IU Bloomington administrators intervened before and early during anti-Israel protests to ensure they did not get out of hand, become dangerous for all involved or lead to the breaking of other laws, such as occupying or destroying University property.
"Looking deeper at the issue, universities cannot allow faculty and others to foster an unsafe environment and eliminate the university's political neutrality or ability to do what taxpayers fund it to do – provide an education to everyone, regardless of political or religious background.
"With that, as Congressman Jim Banks wrote early last week, it is absolutely vital for leaders to show support for the IU administration in dealing with faculty that view their positions as tools of political activism."
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State Sen. Jeff Raatz (R-Richmond) represents Senate District 27, which includes
Henry, Union and Wayne counties, and portions of Franklin County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
