Princeton U. African-American studies professor Cornel West, along with 18 other protesters, was arrested on the steps of the Supreme Court on Sunday afternoon. After attending this weekend’s dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial on the National Mall, West took part in the October 2011 Stop the Machine protest centered in Washington’s Freedom Plaza, which concluded with a march to the Supreme Court.
Demonstrating in the Supreme Court or on its grounds is a violation of Title 40 of the United States Code, with the penalty for the misdemeanor being up to 60 days in jail or a $100 fine. West and the other protesters who followed him on his spontaneous march to the Supreme Court from Freedom Plaza were reportedly warned by Capitol Police but continued protesting until they were placed under arrest.
“Professor Cornel West’s participation in the protest was an individual choice, as members of Princeton’s faculty frequently participate in activities in line with their interests,” University spokesman Martin Mbugua said in an email. “Princeton is a place that is committed to fostering an atmosphere of civic engagement and academic freedom,” Mbugua added.
Because West is on sabbatical this year, Mbugua noted, no classes or students were affected by his arrest.
A YouTube video of the arrest shows West cooperating with police, with his supporters cheering even as he was taken into custody. “We want to send a message … that we are willing to do whatever it takes, even if we get arrested,” West can be seen saying into a megaphone in the video. “We will not allow this day of the Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial to go without somebody going to jail,” he said before being arrested.
After spending the night in jail with other protesters, West was released on Monday afternoon and gathered with supporters outside of the Judiciary Square courthouse. The crowd greeted him by chanting, “We are the 99 percent,” a popular slogan of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Prosecutors chose not to move forward with charges on West or any of the other protesters arrested in connection with Sunday’s event, although they have the right to revisit the charges.
The October 2011 Stop the Machine protest is loosely affiliated with the larger Occupy Wall Street movement. Their most recent rally was held to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan. They proclaimed a message of both anti-war and anti-corporate greed, drawing a crowd of approximately 500 people when West spoke at Freedom Plaza.
West’s speech focused primarily on condemning corporate greed and the prison industrial complex, and he proclaimed that MLK’s legacy was still alive with the protesters at Freedom Plaza.
West has recently launched a multi-city poverty bus tour alongside friend and PBS talk show host Tavis Smiley and has been an outspoken critic of President Barack Obama’s performance in office — particularly what West describes as his lack of efforts to alleviate challenges facing the black community — despite having endorsed Obama during his campaign.
“It’s already historic in terms of a thousand cities in 82 countries,” said West in the video after being asked about the growing Occupy Wall Street movement. “The question is where it will continue and what form it will take — we just don’t know yet,” he added.
West, having just been released from jail on Monday afternoon, could not be reached for comment.