This week, ASU acknowledged that the DOJ is reviewing allegations that university police forcibly removed hijabs from four women during April’s Pro-Palestinian protest that led to an on-campus encampment.
Mass Liberation AZ’s lead organizer, Patricia Pagliuca, said video from that day shows demonstrators urging law enforcement to stop.
“People were begging, pleading, demanding, do not remove their hijab,” said Pagliuca. “That is their freedom of religion, you cannot remove – and they didn't listen.”
As far as the DOJ’s review bringing accountability: “We don't have a ton of faith the Department of Justice is necessarily going to be able to do that. The ASU Police Department and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department both said, ‘Oh yes, of course. We are working in full cooperation with the Department of Justice, but we don't expect that we've violated anyone's constitutional rights.’ That feels like a slap in the face.”
Pagliuca said this, along with continued charges against at least 68 demonstrators, sends a message about how ASU, local law enforcement and the County Attorney’s Office consider protest rights in spaces they control.
“You might not be on the side of the protesters,” she said. “Maybe you’ll be out there protesting whatever the next issue is. If they decide they don’t like it, they can completely disregard your constitutional rights, scoop you up and put you in jail.”
ASU has stated officers used recognized enforcement practices.
Full statement from Arizona State University:
“ASU has been notified of the review by the DOJ. We believe that ASU Police took actions that night consistent with recognized law enforcement practices. The university will cooperate fully with the review.”