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A pro-Palestinian student at a private university in Macon, Georgia, was arrested after coming into physical contact with a conservative speaker giving a speech on campus about the war between Israel and Hamas.
Mercer University student Savannah Grace O’Brien was arrested Thursday by campus police on simple assault charges after making physical contact with Atlas Society Executive Director Jennifer Grossman, who appeared to be speaking in support of Israel, according to WMAZ-TV.
The Atlas Society is a conservative nonprofit organization that promotes the philosophy of author and philosopher Ayn Rand, whose works include Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead.
O’Brien was booked into the Bibb County Jail on Friday and released on $650 bail.
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A video of the incident posted on social media by the Atlas Society showed the student, who was draped in pro-Palestinian and transgender flags and wearing a mask, interrupting Grossman’s speech after questioning his stance on the war between Israel and Hamas. and his previous work as senior vice president of the fruit and vegetable company Dole.
The student approached Grossman at the front of the auditorium and interrupted his speech. The student then criticized Dole’s labor and business practices and took aim at Grossman.
A campus police officer was seen escorting the student out of the room after the incident.
“America used to be better than this,” the Atlas Society wrote on Facebook.
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Mercer said in a statement that it is reviewing the incident and will take action “as warranted.”
“It is not acceptable to disrupt and invade a speaker’s personal space,” the university said. “We hope this ultimately proves to be a positive learning experience for the student.”
The speech was held at Mercer University’s Willet Auditorium and was presented by the university’s chapter of the conservative group Turning Point USA.
Many pro-Palestinian protests and riots have occurred at American colleges and universities since Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on October 7, prompting a retaliatory military response by Israeli forces.
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