A college student teared up after explaining what the school was doing to her after she was arrested for engaging in a protest over Israel’s war in Gaza.
The student, Breanna Brocker, an Arizona State University (ASU) Senior, was among the 72 students arrested and taken into custody for continuous protests despite multiple warnings about the consequences.
In a statement to the press, Brocker tearfully said she would not be able to graduate with her mates because her suspension from school would cause her to miss her final exams.
“I’m a little disappointed,” Brocker said. “I’m being restricted from many things right now that I didn’t expect to be for first standing up for something I believe in. I have family coming in who I have to let them know to, you know, not come to my graduation ceremonies.”
The Arizona Board of Regents stated that the ASU would ensure the completion of final exams or assignments for the students suspended. Still, it’s uncertain if their suspension will be lifted before graduation.
Brocker was also among the 20 students the U.S. District judge denied preliminary injection to lift the ban on suspended students after the protests.
Despite the suspension, Brocker said she had no regrets about participating in such protests.
“I was doing what I believed was right and still believe it to be right. I would stand up for the cause again, even if it means something negative for me,” She said. “So much harm has been done to all of those people already. I am safe, I am fine. I may not walk at graduation, which might harm future job prospects, but I’m not in physical danger.”
An #ArizonaStateUniversity senior choked up over missing graduation after being arrested and suspended for trespassing during an anti-#Israel protesthttps://t.co/YdlSnRvJ6s
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) May 7, 2024
Following the suspension, Brocker and her fellow students who were arrested have been asked to stay away from the campus.
The school’s decision prompted the students to file a lawsuit against ASU, accusing the school of violating students’ free speech and retaliating against those who attended the protest.