Over the past two weeks, Swarthmore College has issued major misconduct cases against 8 students, threatening them with expulsion, for allegedly handing out zines on campus. These charges are the first of their kind, alleging “Bullying and Intimidation” and “Endagerment or Affliction of Physical Harm” solely for the content in these zines. The first of these zines details the violent investments of the Board of Managers, exposing their power over the college and its finances. The second zine serves as a reflection of student organizing, examining the brutal repression that Swarthmore has forced onto its students. These charges represent a fascist crackdown on political expression, and reveal how far Swarthmore is willing to go to hinder free speech on campus.

Through these charges, Swarthmore has demonstrated the level of surveillance it is willing to use to repress any sign of dissent. During this investigation, Swarthmore’s Department of Public Safety stalked two Black students for weeks, eventually entering their off-campus living situation to gather intelligence. Swarthmore is revealing the level of targeted, racialized surveillance it will deploy solely due to some words on a piece of paper.

This investigation is happening while Swarthmore continues to pursue third-degree misdemeanor charges against the Swarthmore 9, carrying a maximum punishment of one year in prison. The precedent Swarthmore is setting through this case, and when it called 40+ cops to campus to destroy the encampment and arrest 9 protesters in May, demonstrate that the college is only willing to protect its investments and property. All of these repressive measures have only been deployed when students reject the college’s complicity in genocide. Swarthmore continues to show that its supposed values hold no meaning as the college continues to invest in companies like Cisco Systems which is a proud partner of the “israeli” occupation.

Swarthmore’s unwillingness to disclose its financial investments and further unwillingness to divest from companies facilitating the mass slaughter and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians is disgraceful. The college is actively pursuing these major misconduct charges because it is terrified of any sort of dissent and act of resistance. They are actively criminalizing political speech at an educational institution, showing the dangerous direction the college is heading under a presidential administration that continues to crack down on dissent and target pro-Palestine activists. Now, more than ever, it is our responsibility to hold Swarthmore accountable.

DEMAND SWARTHMORE DROP THE CHARGES!