We’ve repeatedly asked for an interview with UT Austin President Jay Hartzell about his handling of pro-Palestinian protests.

A UT spox declined.

Now he has an op-ed out — in the ⁦Houston Chronicle⁩? houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outloo…

Despite the UT Austin's claims, Travis County Attorney Delia Garza says her office hasn't seen a single charge related to weapons or assaults related to the recent demonstrations on campus.
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Since UT-Austin cracked down on a pro-Palestine demonstration last week, an ill-informed debate has ensued about the authority Texas public universities have– & don’t have– to remove protesters.

So I asked five First Amendment law experts.🧵
bit.ly/4a547Sz

For the third summer in a row, a popular swimming hole just outside Austin will be closed to swimmers because of low water levels.

From Maya Fawaz: kut.org/energy-environ…

There's a lot going on this week. Including an election you may not have heard of.

It has to do with tax appraisals. I did my best to break it down for y'all: kut.org/austin/2024-05…

Austin’s local prosecutor said today UT Austin’s policy to call in state/local police to arrest pro-Palestinian demonstrators is “unsustainable.”

The head of the UT System said the university will continue to make “every effort” to do just that.

kut.org/crime-justice/…

I listened for about an hour last night. Riveting radio. These students are incredible.

'Moreover, we will make every effort to see that students who violate campus policies and outside individuals and groups that violate state law are fully prosecuted.'

The University of Texas System Board of Regents Chairman issues a statement on protests at UT Austin

After 79 more arrests at pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UT, Travis County attorney says continuing to charge protesters is “unsustainable.”

Story by Andrew England Weber.
kut.org/crime-justice/…

Breaking: Brown University reaches a deal with encampers. The encampers have agreed to clear encampment by 5p. In exchange the Brown Corp Board will vote on a divestment measure in October, among other concessions. Details TK

NEW: Travis County Attorney Delia Garza says her office has received 65 cases for criminal trespassing after UT protests yesterday, calls on UT to find a “compromise” with demonstrators and that her office has been overwhelmed with cases.

“It does not seem sustainable.”

I spoke to Here & Now this morning about yesterday's protests on the UT Austin campus: wbur.org/hereandnow/202…

The scene so far on UT Austin campus this afternoon. Currently calm as a group in support of Palestine solidarity protests sit talking about what's happened on campus. Some police stand to the side. A few people with Israeli flags also here.

Seventy-nine people were arrested on UT Austin's campus during demonstrations Monday against Israel's war in Gaza, the Travis County Sheriff's Office said.
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We now know that these were flashbangs. ID'd by my colleague Patricia Lim via International Women's Media Foundation

NEW: The Travis County Sheriff's Office says 79 people were booked on charges related to yesterday’s protest at UT Austin.

They are all still in jail at this point.

NEW: Austin photojournalist faces felony charge after arrest during UT protest, affidavit says

Read more:

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Breaking: Police officers are removing pro-Palestinian protesters who tried to set up camp on the UT Austin campus.
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NEw: Just spoke with George Lobb of Austin Lawyers’ Guild, who said police arrested 40+ people at pro-Palestinian protests on UT Austin campus today. He says we should expect an exact number in 24 hours.

Fifty-seven people were arrested at protests on Wednesday.