Maryam Alwan figured the worst was over after New York City police in riot gear arrested her and other protesters on the Columbia University campus, loaded them onto buses and held them in custody for hours.

But the next evening, the college junior received an email from the university. Alwan and other students were being suspended after their arrests at the “ Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” a tactic colleges across the country have deployed to calm growing campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war.

The students’ plight has become a central part of protests, with students and a growing number of faculty demanding their amnesty. At issue is whether universities and law enforcement will clear the charges and withhold other consequences, or whether the suspensions and legal records will follow students into their adult lives.

  • iAmTheTot@kbin.social
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    7 months ago

    Bernie Sanders was arrested at protests in his youth, iirc. If there is any glimmer of hope in this shit storm, maybe in forty years a few of these students will be leading s political movement together as senators and representatives.

    • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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      7 months ago

      It’s restrictive to working in private sector and renting an apartment. There is no disqualification for criminal background for a member of government. Trump can be elected if he’s convicted of any or all charges. He’d just be barred from voting in the election.

      • Wrench@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        I thought being a convicted felon prevented him from being on the ballot. Or maybe that was for primaries?

        • disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world
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          7 months ago

          Nope. It just stops him from voting. Treason would exclude him from holding office according to the Constitution, but he’s not charged with treason.

      • bassomitron@lemmy.world
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        7 months ago

        Not entirely true. If he were convicted of treason, that’s a disqualifier based on the constitution.

        • jkrtn@lemmy.ml
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          7 months ago

          If you simply gift Clarence an RV the Constitution is no obstacle to committing crimes against America.

        • jkrtn@lemmy.ml
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          7 months ago

          Disliking genocide puts them far above many congressmen already. Disliking it enough to be arrested is a great reason to vote for them.

          Unfortunately criminal arrests are only going to fuck up their lives. It takes a fuckload of money and backing to get into Congress.