ATLANTA — In a message recapping the week of campus protests over the war in Gaza, University of Georgia administrators said only one of the five protests held there this week resulted in arrests. And those who were taken into custody, “chose to be,” officials wrote.

“Make no mistake: These individuals chose to be arrested, and they chose to resist arrest,” the letter read. “They are all adults, and they consciously made these unfortunate decisions. But actions have consequences.”

UGA said 16 people were arrested, 9 of whom were UGA students. The student organization that organized the unauthorized event, Students for Justice in Palestine, was issued an interim suspension, administrators said.

Those who were arrested were “well aware” of the university’s policies on freedom of expression, which calls for such events to be registered with the Division of Student Affairs, officials said. Still, about 25 protesters started setting up an encampment on the north campus quadrangle at 6:30 a.m. Monday.

“These activities, including creation of an encampment, clearly violated multiple provisions of the University’s Freedom of Expression Policy,” the university said, “which has not permitted encampments on campus since the early 1990s. And the protesters knew it.”

Read the full letter:

“Every day on the University of Georgia campus, students, faculty, staff, and even visitors freely express opinions and viewpoints on a variety of issues. In the 2023-24 academic year alone, the University of Georgia has facilitated thousands of expressive activities, including 265 events registered with our Division of Student Affairs, all in accordance with our Freedom of Expression policy. These expressive activities take many forms — marches, protests, vigils, speeches, lectures, petitions, and distribution of literature.

Five protests have been held this week, with several more registered for the coming days. Out of all the expressive activities this year, only one has resulted in arrests: Monday morning, when well-organized protesters planned an event in willful violation of University policy, formed a clearly prohibited encampment on our historic North Campus Quad, and refused repeated warnings to either comply with policies or disperse.

Members of this group have held numerous registered events on our campus this academic year and were very familiar with applicable policies. Just last week, they had spoken by phone with the Associate Dean of Students, who specifically reminded them of applicable policies and the need for a reservation for any events.

Well aware of these policies, but without making a reservation, approximately 25 protesters moved in around 6:30 a.m. Monday to set up tents and camping supplies, as well as wooden shields. They erected a barricade that blocked sidewalks and building entrances and affixed signs to campus structures. The protesters began using amplified sound in close proximity to academic buildings. These activities, including creation of an encampment, clearly violated multiple provisions of the University’s Freedom of Expression Policy, which has not permitted encampments on campus since the early 1990s. And the protesters knew it.

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