Claiming the University of Virginia has retaliated against an employee for participating in last May’s pro-Palestine protest on Grounds, a group of 30 marched to Madison Hall, which houses UVa President Jim Ryan’s office, and demanded a meeting with Ryan this past Wednesday.
The group congregated on a parcel of land between the school’s iconic Rotunda and the University Chapel, the site where UVa Law School librarian Ben Doherty and 26 others were arrested on May 4 during a protest against Israel’s yearlong war with Palestinian terror group Hamas.
While the courts ultimately dismissed the trespassing charges against Doherty and others, the librarian received a “letter of counseling” from the law school on May 21 saying that “future conduct of this kind … will very likely result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.”
UVa says that a letter of counseling is not a disciplinary measure, but Doherty and supporters believe the letter’s language is unambiguous.
“To me, it’s a written threat of termination for participating in a protest,” Doherty told The Daily Progress on Wednesday. “It feels pretty material to me. I think they are using the idea that it’s not a disciplinary action to get away with not following the law.”
Moments before speaking with the press on Wednesday, Doherty and members of the UVa chapter of the United Campus Workers of Virginia union marched to the steps of Madison Hall seeking a meeting with Ryan. In a statement released prior to the march, the group argued that they would “oppose any retaliation against workers” exercising their right to protest and would ask Ryan “to stop this retaliation threatening Ben’s termination.” The group contends that UVa violated both Virginia Code and the U.S. Constitution.
Their attempts to meet with Ryan were unsuccessful.
After reaching Madison Hall, a dozen people approached the steps while the rest of the group stayed closer to University Avenue and led chants, including “Protest is a right, this is why we have to fight.”
The door was never unlocked. Instead, Brie Gertler, vice provost of academic affairs, walked up the stairs to meet the group, where they informed her they wanted to meet with Ryan.
Read more
