IV 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1212 

Ending campus encampments. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 8, 2024 

Mr. KILEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION 

Ending campus encampments. 

Whereas, in recent weeks, tent encampments have spread at 

universities across the country; 

Whereas these encampments are illegal, in violation of university policies, and have become rife with antisemitic 

threats and acts of violence, harassment, and other disruptive behavior; 

Whereas some universities have responded by evenhandedly 

enforcing the law and clearing the encampments, and 

have emphasized the right of students to protest and express their opinions in innumerable ways, while making 

it clear that acts in violation of the law or university 

rules will not be tolerated; 

Whereas other universities have decided to ignore the law and 

ignore their own policies, allowing encampments and 


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2 

•HRES 1212 IH 

other illegal activity associated with them to grow unchecked for weeks; 

Whereas individuals occupying encampments have made demands of universities such as divesting from companies 

tied to Israel, cutting ties with Hillel campus programs, 

and ending study abroad programs to Israel; 

Whereas some universities have negotiated with those in the 

encampments and agreed to their demands around 

changes in university policy, such as at Northwestern 

University, Brown University, Rutgers University, Johns 

Hopkins University, the University of Minnesota, and the 

University of California, Riverside; 

Whereas other universities have canceled classes, moved to 

online meetings, or canceled graduation ceremonies, such 

as at Columbia University; the University of California, 

Los Angeles; the University of California, San Diego; and 

Emory University; 

Whereas these encampments and the criminal behavior connected to them, such as threats or acts of violence, blocking or occupying buildings, harassment, or other disruptive behavior, are not protected by the First Amendment; 

Whereas, to the contrary, they disrupt the operation of the 

university and the academic freedom and speech rights of 

other students; 

Whereas protecting free speech is foundational to the purpose 

of a university, which means universities should encourage free and open expression in speech, writing, listening, 

challenging, and learning, while not shielding students 

from ideas the university disagrees with or limiting expression on the basis of content; and 


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3 

•HRES 1212 IH 

Whereas a commitment to free speech does not mean universities should tolerate harassment, vandalism, the promotion of violence, the destruction of property, the obstruction of freedom of movement, or other unlawful acts: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) finds canceling classes and commencements 

3 in response to unlawful encampments is unaccept4 able and unfair to the majority of students; 

5 (2) condemns any negotiation where a univer6 sity changes its policy in response to the demands of 

7 those occupying illegal encampments, including de8 mands to end study abroad programs to Israel, cut 

9 ties with Hillel, and divest from companies associ10 ated with Israel; and 

11 (3) calls on universities across the country to 

12 work with local law enforcement to immediately clear 

13 tent encampments from university property and re14 store safe learning environments on their campuses, 

15 and further resolves that noncompliant students, 

16 faculty, or staff be subject to appropriate con17 sequences. 

Æ 


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