Campus antiwar protests have emerged across Georgia. How have elected officials responded?

Protests against Israel’s treatment of Palestinians have broken out on college campuses throughout Georgia and nationwide, with students holding rallies and some building tent encampments to object to their school’s ties to the Israeli government.

In many cities, the protests have received swift backlash from campus leaders and local police, with more than 2,000 people arrested across the U.S.

In Georgia, student demonstrators have gathered at Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of Georgia, Georgia Southern University and Kennesaw State University.

More: UGA police arrest protesters against Israel after they refuse to relocate on campus

More: 'Rally for Palestine' held at Georgia Southern's Statesboro and Armstrong campuses

The state’s elected officials have also weighed in with their views on the protests. Here’s what they have to say:

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Gov. Brian Kemp

Georgia’s governor was quick to condemn the protests, denouncing demonstrators as “radicals,” and claiming protestors have been “terrorizing” fellow Jewish students.

“College campuses are designed to be places of learning and often civil discourse, but in Georgia, they will never be a safe haven for those who promote terrorism and extremism that threatens the safety of students,” he wrote in an official statement.

"We will respect the right to peacefully protest, but those who choose to make the unwise decision to use our college campuses to intimidate, make threats, promote violence, or in any other way break the law will be met with the full force of the law and brought to justice.”

Lt. Gov. Burt Jones

The state’s lieutenant governor also strongly condemned the student protests, labelling them “antisemitic and illegal.”

“We will not allow pro-terrorist radicals and liberal anarchists to invade Georgia’s campuses," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “These criminals have only one goal: disruption."

Jones also used the protests to slam Vice President Kamala Harris, denouncing her silence on the issue and urging Georgians to re-elect Donald Trump.

“It is imperative that we put President Trump back in the White House and combat this antisemitic hatred,” he said in a statement.

Attorney General Chris Carr

Georgia’s attorney general thanked police for arresting protestors, and condemned leaders at other universities for their response to student demonstrations.

“We’re not New York or California,” Carr posted on X. “We won’t stand by while people illegally occupy our schools and threaten and intimidate our students.”

He also extended his support to universities looking to pursue legal action against the demonstrators.

“Nobody has the legal right to shut down our schools by camping out and making antisemitic threats,” he said.

Members of Congress

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) appeared on Fox Business to denounce the student protests, stating, “We stand with Israel in the United States, and House Republicans stand with our Jewish students as well.”

He also insinuated that antiwar demonstrators supported the terrorist organization Hamas — though there has been no evidence of Hamas supporters appearing on college campuses — posting, “Pro-Hamas protestors have no place in our colleges.”

Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) appeared to celebrate arrests of the protestors, posting a video of a handcuffed student being repeatedly tased by law enforcement at Emory with the caption: "Not sure what y'all are doing up north, but we don't give them the time to encamp."

Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA) issued a statement condemning Gov. Kemp’s decision to use Georgia State Patrol to arrest student protesters at Emory.

“Reminiscent of the anti-war and civil rights protests on college campuses in the 1960s and 70s, today's student protesters have a First Amendment right to protest against what they see as unjust policies and practices of their government,” he wrote. “I fully support their right to peacefully protest on campus and I call for the outside agitators to stay away from our college campuses.”

State Legislators

A coalition of 19 Democratic legislators signed a letter denouncing the Georgia State Patrol’s use of force while arresting student protestors at Emory, and reiterated the right to protest under the First Amendment.

“America’s history is replete with examples of protest serving to perfect our union,” the letter reads. “Yet state leaders have recently begun treating protests as violent, a violation of RICO laws, or even ‘terrorism.’ State leaders have created an environment where state police feel free - or perhaps are directed - to respond to normal peaceful protests with violence.”

The letter was signed by Ruwa Romman (D-Duluth), Georgia’s only Palestinian lawmaker, as well as House Minority Whip Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville) and Minority Caucus Chair Billy Mitchell (D-Stone Mountain), among others.

State Rep. Esther Panitch (D-Sandy Springs), the state legislature’s only Jewish member, has been outspoken against pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, urging her Democratic colleagues to support the Israeli government.

“I want my party to reclaim its pro-Israel stance (which the top of the party is doing) and stop pandering to the far left,” she wrote.

Maya Homan is a 2024 election fellow at USA TODAY, focusing on Georgia politics. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, as @MayaHoman.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Campus protests 2024: How elected officials are responding