USG called on USC to “forgo any further retaliatory action against students” for their participation in peaceful protests on campus in a statement addressed to President Carol Folt, Provost Andrew Guzman and “USC senior administrators.”
The letter comes after 93 protestors were arrested by the Los Angeles Police Department Wednesday evening after establishing an encampment in Alumni Park.
The letter is aimed to serve as a statement but was sent to President Folt Sunday morning, according to the USG Executive Cabinet.
“The escalation of police violence on our campus is an experience we never imagined — much less one being fronted by our university,” the letter read. “The safety of all students must be upheld regardless of political opinion, and communication with students must be handled with transparency, respect, and dignity.”
The letter was signed by the USG Executive Cabinet and Senate for the 2024-2025 academic year, the USC Academic Culture Assembly, USC Asian Pacific American, Black, Environmental, First Generation, International, Latine, Middle Eastern and North African, Native American, Political and Queer and Ally student assemblies, as well as the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment.
“We expect the university’s disproportionate response to the demonstration on April 24th to never recur on this campus,” the letter continued. “Student expression and assembly is not a disruption — it is woven into the very fabric that creates our vibrant, active, and diverse campus community.”
A second encampment formed Friday afternoon in Founders Park, with many protestors staying overnight after DPS declared it a non-permitted event. The protestors relocated Saturday night back to Alumni Park.