AFS Executive Board Denounces Arrests of IU Faculty and Students

As we watch protests unfold across university campuses calling for the end of violence in Gaza, we are especially distraught to see colleagues at Indiana University, where our offices are located, unjustly arrested during peaceful demonstrations late last week. Among those arrested is Dr. David McDonald, Chair of the Folklore and Ethnomusicology Department, who faces being banned from campus if these charges are not diminished or dropped. The AFS office also bears witness to how these demonstrations are being mischaracterized as protests that are “threatening violence” with “episodes of antisemitism.” We deplore any acts of antisemitism on university campuses and elsewhere, and also support lawful and nonviolent public protests.

As we continue to watch the situation at Indiana University unfold, we know that standing for the rights of free speech activities, peaceful demonstration, and academic freedom are bedrocks of universities and democracies. Whether or not we agree with one another on the arguments in these protests, we must stand for the rights of our colleagues to share their viewpoints and experiences. 

Below is a copy of the letter the AFS Executive Board sent to IU’s Board of Trustees, President, Provost, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.