DEVELOPING STORY: The latest on the arrest of 13 students

By Sophia Pargas, Olivia LeDuc and Hannah Nguyen

April 16 at 10:02 p.m. - Bernhardt provides update to Emerson community

After his meeting with the arrested students, Bernhardt sent an email to the community detailing the college’s future commitments.

This story is part of a larger series surrounding the March 22 arrests. If you feel you or someone you know could be a valuable source for our continued coverage of this incident, please contact [email protected].
April 16 at 7 p.m. - SJP and ECSU announce seven proposals

In coalition with more than 50 undersigned Emerson student organizations, SJP and ECSU created seven proposals to college administration to “address systemic mistreatment, targeting, and isolation of student activists as well as Black, brown, Palestinian, Arab and other marginalized groups on campus, which preceded and led to ECPD’s arrest of

13, mostly BIPOC, student protesters,” according to an Instagram post.

Emerson officials are expected to respond by April 23, with schedules and strategies for the coming months as the groups and the college “collaborate on the implementation of these proposals, as well as a date, time, and location for the college-wide assembly, according to the post
April 16 at 6:15 p.m. - Bernhardt meets with arrested students, students hold rally in 2B Alley

Following nearly a month after the March 22 arrests, Bernhardt met with the 13 arrested students at 6:15 p.m. While the meeting took place, students rallied in the 2B alleyway to show support for the students.
April 16 at 5 p.m. - Emerson alums sign open letter in support of SJP and ECSU

A group of alumni wrote and posted a letter in solidarity with SJP and ECSU in the Emerson Mafia Facebook group. The letter contains a Google Form link that invites alums to sign the letter.

“As alumni, we are invested in the reputation and values of our alma mater. Despite generations of student organizers pushing for meaningful change, we see that there is still a great deal of work to be done in order to actualize Emerson’s commitment to the following: “respect and equal treatment for all people of all backgrounds, orientations, beliefs, and physical capabilities”; “appreciation for diverse ideas and the free expression of them”; and “social justice and global responsibility in our institution, communities, nation, and world,” the letter read.
March 29 - Bernhardt attends SGA meeting

The Student Government Association (SGA) held its planned meeting on March 29 after not holding a scheduled meeting on March 22. President Jay Bernhardt attended the March 29 meeting to answer questions surrounding the March 22 arrests.
March 27 at 7:34 p.m. - Student Conduct Code charges withdrawn

The Office of Community Standards notified the students who were arrested that the college is withdrawing all student conduct code charges related to Friday’s demonstration, according to an email sent to the Emerson community.

“I have begun reaching out to these 12 students to share my personal apology for their distress, and I hope to engage them as soon as possible,” Bernhardt said in the email.
March 26 - Emerson parents write letter in support of 13 students

Emerson parents wrote a letter in support of the 13 students arrested and to advocate for “dialogue between the administration and impacted students, ensuring no legal or academic consequences for the participants, and urging Emerson College to strengthen its commitment to creating a more inclusive, understanding campus environment.”

Signatories sent out a Google Form to the Emerson community via Instagram call for additional signatures. The letter expressed concerns over the “implications of involving law enforcement in student protests, particularly noting the impact on students of color,” the form said. It emphasizes the need for the college to “uphold values of diversity, inclusivity, and academic freedom, and calls for a reevaluation of the college's disciplinary measures.”
March 26 at 2:00 p.m. - Faculty assembly held

A mandatory, online faculty assembly was held to discuss the arrests and their aftermath, according to Anna Feder. Students were invited to give testimonies and describe their experience on March 22. In a separate portion of the assembly, President Jay Bernhardt shared his perspective and answered questions from faculty.
March 26 at 9:00 a.m. - Last students appear in court

The remaining arrested students appeared in court and were given 40 hours of community service that can be served at any chosen non-profit, according to Anna Feder. She also noted the different service requirements were due to a different judge, not a difference in charges.
March 25 at 1:15 p.m. - Walkout in 2 Boylston Alley

Students, faculty, and community members held a walkout in support of Palestinian liberation and against student suppression on Monday, March 25. The walkout was held in response to twelve Emerson students being arrested outside the Cutler Majestic Theatre during President Jay M. Bernhardt’s inauguration.
March 25 at 9 a.m. - First students appear in court

Half of the arrested students appeared in court and were given 20 hours of community service, according to Anna Feder. The court will delegate mandatory assignments to fulfill this requirement, Feder said.
March 24 at 5:26 p.m. - College requests charges be dropped

Bernhardt stated that Emerson will not pursue charges against the students who were arrested during the March 22 protest in an email sent to the Emerson community. Bernhardt said the college will request the Boston District Attorney to dismiss all criminal charges.

Additionally, the email said the college is engaging with an external, independent reviewer to oversee administrative hearings and Student Conduct Process to ensure impartiality and transparency. The email continued that Emerson’s leadership team is ready to engage in continued dialogue and active listening with students, staff and faculty in the coming days and months to seek and “to foster an environment where every member of our Emerson community will feel heard and can contribute to our collective growth.”
March 22 at 11:36 p.m. - Administration provides statement on arrests

In response to the protest and ensuing student arrests, an email signed by Emerson’s top administrators was sent to the community. The email stated that approximately 50 students gathered outside the Cutler Majestic Theatre as the inauguration ceremony was underway and were arrested when they did not comply with multiple police requests. The email continued that all students have been released from custody and Emerson “support[s] the right of individuals to express dissenting views and perspectives” in accordance with policies and Code of Community Standards.
March 22 at 3:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. - Supporters wait at precinct

Students, faculty, and staff supporters waited at the precinct for students to be released over the course of six hours. Members of Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine offered the students food, rides, and phone calls as they were released.
March 22 at 12:00 p.m. - 13 students arrested outside inauguration

Students congregated at Cutler Majestic Theater, where Bernhardt’s inauguration was taking place. 12 Emerson students and one non-Emerson student were arrested Friday afternoon.
March 22 at 10:30 a.m. - Bernhardt is inaugurated

Bernhardt was officially inaugurated as the college’s 13th president at an investiture ceremony inside the Cutler Majestic Theatre. Among those in attendance were members of Bernhardt’s family, members of Emerson’s Board of Trustees and Board of Advisors, faculty, students, alumni, delegates representing more than 35 colleges, and three of the college’s former presidents. In his inaugural address, Bernhardt detailed his time at Emerson over the past nine months.
March 22 at 10:00 a.m. - SJP and DSA hosted rally

Emerson Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), along with the Emerson Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), hosted a rally and revolutionary breakfast at the Uncommon Stage in the Boston Common. The rally protested the “college’s tuition hikes, suppression of students and faculty, and silence on the ongoing genocide in Gaza,” according to an Emerson SJP Instagram post.
March 21 at 1:41 p.m. - Bernhardt emails community ahead of inauguration

In an email sent to the Emerson community, President Jay Bernhardt said the college hoped the inauguration event would bring the community together while acknowledging students’ plan to protest inside the Cutler Majestic Theatre during the ceremony.

“We respectfully remind all attendees that the College has policies on freedom of expression and protest, which permits peaceful protest immediately outside buildings and venues, provided that doors are not blocked,” the email said. “The college supports and believes in our community's right to hold and express their opinions and expects everyone to comply with college policies regarding how they do so.”

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