Knife-wielding ASU police chief (so far) gets a better deal than protesters
Arizona State University came down hard and fast on the 20 students who were among the 72 people arrested in late April while protesting against the war in Gaza.
The students were quickly suspended, meaning they can’t go on campus and participate in other activities.
The university explained that it has an appeal process, but the suspension was immediate. Essentially, students get to try to argue their innocence after they’re punished.
Meantime, Arizona State University police Chief Michael Thompson seems to be getting off WAY easier.
ASU police chief is presumed innocent
It’s been weeks since ABC 15 showed what appears to be a video of Thompson carrying a knife and slashing a protester’s tent.
The station also had video from a person at the protest that shows the chief admitting to cutting the tent and appearing to slap the phone from the hand of the person filming him.
Unlike the quick action it took against the students, ASU took its time with Thompson.
He was placed on paid administrative leave after multiple complaints were filed against him for his handling of the protests, which not only included the wayward knife play but reports that some of his officers removed the hijabs of four women without their approval.
The student protesters were charged with trespassing. There is no indication that Thompson has been charged with anything, even though slashing someone’s tent would fall under Arizona’s criminal damage statute.
Student protesters learn valuable lessons
This could all change once an inquiry is completed. But, for now, Thompson is on paid leave.
The university is allowing him the presumption of innocence, pending its investigation.
Why we protested at ASU: It's not about antisemitism
Meantime, it’s just the opposite for the protesting students, who were presumed guilty, suspended and left to make a case for their innocence at a later date.
You could argue, of course, that there are differences between full-time students and full-time employees. And I’m sure there are.
But why not give students the same considerations as employees?
Unless this, too, is meant to be a learning experience.
There is some value in that, of course.
Already the student protesters have learned that actions have consequences. Now, they're seeing first hand that justice is not always swift.
And often … not equal.
Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Wayward ASU police chief gets better deal than Gaza protesters
