State Representative Kristin Marcell has introduced a bill in response to recent anti-Israel protests on college campuses, which have resulted in harassment and intimidation of Jewish students and faculty.
The proposed legislation aims to create a new crime called institutional trespass. This would target unlawful protests in sensitive areas such as houses of worship, cemeteries, and schools. Marcell stressed that while lawful protests are acceptable, those that disrupt students’ rights to education will not be tolerated.
“My bill gives institutions more power to ensure their campuses are places where all students can pursue their education without harassment and intimidation,” Marcell stated.
Additionally, State Representative Martina White has proposed a related bill. This legislation would prevent students convicted of specific unlawful protest actions from receiving Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) grants.
The current law already allows PHEAA to deny grants to students convicted of certain misdemeanors and felonies. White’s proposal would extend this to include convictions for ethnic intimidation, institutional vandalism, and institutional trespass.
White pointed out that while protests are common on college campuses, unlawful actions such as occupying academic buildings and destroying property are not protected by the First Amendment. Students convicted of these actions would face further consequences, including being denied PHEAA grants.