AMHERST — An Amherst resident with two children in the public schools, Jill Brevik made her way to the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday evening to offer protection to students at a pro-Palestinian encampment, by bearing witness and supporting their cause.

Understanding that law enforcement had moved in on similar sites on other campuses across the country, and not wanting to see that situation unfold in her community, Brevik said she allowed herself to be arrested as students and faculty members began being taken into custody for taking what she calls a brave stand against genocide in Gaza and the extensive devastation being caused with the complicity of U.S. government and defense contractors.

“I did so without resisting, and yet I was physically injured by a police officer while walking to the transport bus,” says Brevik, a cofounder of Valley Families for Palestine and member of Amherst4Ceasefire. “I was also injured in custody by zip ties that were too tight and were not loosened until after my hand went completely numb.”

Inside the Mullins Center on campus, used as the holding cell for several hours for those arrested, Brevik described what she saw.

“I watched students suffering from being denied the right to use the bathroom for many hours, while several officers stood by and refused to speak to anyone,” Brevik said. “Their assigned job was to take the male individuals to the bathroom one by one.”

It was a similar experience for another Amherst parent, Allegra Clark, who, like Brevik, had arrived on campus to see a peaceful protest, even though a few faculty members had been arrested. Clark said that, as a mother, she cries for children of Gaza and views Israel’s escalation in the southern city of Rafah as unconscionable.

She also supports the demands students have made, including dropping all criminal and civil charges against protesters arrested after staying inside Whitmore Administration Building after hours last fall.

“Students have always been on the forefront in the fight for justice, and their calls to disclose, divest and dismiss the charges against the UMass 57 are in line with this tradition,” Clark said.

“The protesters remained peaceful throughout my time there. However, the officers did not protect, serve, nor keep the community safe,” Clark charged. “I bore witness to students being thrown on the ground. I saw officers’ knees in students’ backs. I saw four officers on top of one student. And I was able to film much of this.”

Brevik and Clark were among more than 50 community members out of the 132 arrested. The rest were mostly UMass students and six faculty members.

On Friday, during a Cuppa Joe community event at the Bangs Community Center, where Town Manager Paul Bockelman meets with the public, longtime activist Vincent O’Connor, a veteran of the civil rights movement, called the request for police intervention by Chancellor Javier Reyes  “stupidity.” O’Connor also praised Amherst police, under the leadership of new Police Chief Gabriel Ting, for having officers respond for standby assistance, rather than actively making arrests.

Since the breaking up of the encampment, there have been calls for Reyes to resign, and the Student Government Association Senate passed a no confidence vote on his leadership, even though some had been advised to hold off until Reyes had an opportunity to meet with and engage in dialogue with the representatives. The five largest unions on campus have also raised questions about Reyes’ handling of the situation.

UMass President Marty Meehan, though, has called Reyes dedicated and thoughtful, and that he remains committed to the education, well-being and safety of students. In addition, Meehan noted the circumstances are much like what is happening elsewhere.

Brevik is far from alone in among those claiming there was aggressive policing, noting that she watched students be kicked and pushed to the ground, with several having more than one officer on top of them and with knees in their backs.

“None of us deserved this for peacefully protesting,” Brevik said. “I would never want my children to attend UMass Amherst under this sort of leadership, which is sad because we love this town and the UMass community, of which we feel fortunate to be a part.

“Chancellor Reyes and his administration should be absolutely ashamed of themselves, and he should resign immediately,” she said.

Clark, who co-chairs the town’s Community Safety and Social Justice Committee, said the experience recommits her to an understanding of how people are treated by police, especially Black, Indigenous and people of color.

“I have been involved in calls for alternative public safety in this community for years, driven by my concern for police brutality, particularly against BIPOC community members. What I witnessed Tuesday at UMass affirms this conviction,” Clark said.

Writing an account for the online Amherst Indy publication, Amherst resident Amber Cano-Martin noted, though not arrested, she stayed until the end of the activity.

“I am totally disgusted with Chancellor Reyes on the university’s response and I agree that Reyes should step down for calling a violent police assault on a peaceful, beautiful, communal protest,” Cano-Martin wrote. “They are the ones who are violent, not us.”

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.