The Arizona House has passed a bill that would ban encampments on public university or community college grounds.
It comes in response to protests last year where demonstrators set up encampments at Arizona State University and University of Arizona to protest Israel’s actions in Gaza.
While police do arrest people who refused to leave, this measure would give explicit power to administrators and campus security to take their own disciplinary actions.
Democratic Rep. Quantá Crews spoke against the legislation.
"I feel it could be weaponized against different groups that are not intending to harm other students and are just trying to exercise their First Amendment right," Crews said.
The measure now goes to the Senate.
Gage Skidmore/CC by 2.0
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