Internet slams Emory University after reports of police firing rubber bullets at protesters

DEKALB COUNTY, GEORGIA: Social media was abuzz with opinions and individual views when recent reports surfaced of Georgia police allegedly resorting to the use of rubber bullets against protesters at Emory University.

Many individuals on social media platform X suggested that the protests could be a tactic to divert attention away from the upcoming November presidential elections by the Democratic administration.

Police allegedly fires rubber bullets at students protesting at Emory University

According to the Guardian, police made forceful arrests at Emory University in Decatur, Georgia. This crackdown is one of the first instances on any campus to involve rubber bullets and tear gas. It happened after students set up tents in solidarity with Palestine and against Cop City.

On Thursday, Emory students pitched tents on the campus lawns to protest the university's connections to Israel.

Emory University criticized these students, labeling them as "anti-Israel activists" who don't belong to their community. They accused them of disrupting campus activities on Thursday. Police intervened as a large crowd gathered on the quad.

Emory University told Fox News "Several dozen protesters trespassed into Emory University’s campus early Thursday morning and set up tents on the Quad. These individuals are not members of our community. They are activists attempting to disrupt our university as our students finish classes and prepare for finals. Emory does not tolerate vandalism or other criminal activity on campus. The Emory Police Department ordered the group to leave and contacted Atlanta Police and Georgia State Patrol for assistance."

Fox News reported that over 100 protesters gathered at the Emory University campus. They carried signs calling for the severing of ties with Israel and an end to the conflict. Supplies like food and water were provided at the protest site. Some protesters chanted pro-Palestine slogans, which were echoed by the crowd.

Although the exact number of people detained or arrested during Thursday's protests is unknown, a video shared by X user Colin Rugg shows tense moments where officials used zip ties, tear gas, tasers, and rubber bullets to control the crowd.

According to Fox News, the protesters included both anti-Israel demonstrators and supporters of the "Stop Cop City" movement. The latter aims to prevent the construction of the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center. The situation eventually calmed down, and the remaining group briefly marched before the protest ended, the outlet reports.

Internet users react

A user wrote, "Do y’all notice that, just like clockwork, riots and protests break out about 6 months before a presidential election…Weird, huh?"

Another user wrote, "Uprising organized chaos on election year? Haha like clockwork."

A user commented, "This coordinated attempt to disrupt all colleges and universities is going to end in disaster. It’s already heading in that direction. This is clearly all orchestrated and funded. Soros has already been outed as one or the prime funders of all this. Students are his pawns."

Another user commented, "This is an organized, paid for s**t show."

A user stated, "These protests are happening all over the United States, who is funding it?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.