Far-left Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein was arrested during an anti-Israel protest at Washington University in St. Louis on Saturday — a day after she was confronted outside of Columbia University.
The physician-turned-activist and politician was among the more than 80 people arrested after the large group refused to leave the private university’s campus, according to the St. Louis Dispatch.
Footage posted to Stein’s X account showed police detaining and escorting the 73-year-old pol away from the protest.
Stein’s Campaign Manager Jason Call and Deputy Campaign Manager Kelly Merrill-Caye were also arrested.
“We’re standing here with the students at WashU, standing up for our Constitutional rights, standing up for the American people who want to end this genocide now,” Stein said.
Other posts claimed Stein was “holding the line with students” before police “used force against” her and other protesters.
“Jill and others were attempting to de-escalate with police before they began arresting people,” Stein’s X account said.
“It’s shameful that university administrations are condoning the use of force against their own students who are simply calling for peace, human rights, and an end to a genocide that the American people abhor.”
The protests were demanding an end to the war in Gaza and calling on the university to cut all ties with Boeing Co., according to the outlet.
“It quickly became clear through the words and actions of this group that they did not have good intentions on our campus and that this demonstration had the potential to get out of control and become dangerous,” the statement from the school read. “All will face charges of trespassing and some may also be charged with resisting arrest and assault, including for injuries to police officers.”
“We are firmly committed to free expression and allow ample opportunity for voices to be heard on our campus. However, we expect everyone to respect our policies and we will take swift action to enforce them to their fullest extent.”
Stein’s arrest comes a day after she was confronted by Jewish protesters outside the Columbia University gates Friday morning, who ripped her as being “in the minority” and representing “the 1%” of Jews in opposition to Israel’s war against Hamas.
A physician and Harvard graduate, Stein, 73, sought the Green Party presidential nomination in 2012 and 2016.
She announced her 2024 bid on X last November, citing ending the “genocide in Gaza” as one of her top priorities.
