Folks – I’m in Missouri right now with Dr. Jill Stein. We’re in the midst of a nationwide tour visiting states where we are working to get her on the ballot for November.

While we were in St. Louis, students from Washington University asked us to join them at their Gaza Solidarity encampment. Of course we went.

At the request of student organizers, we engaged with the Vice Chancellor and the Director of Student Affairs in an attempt to de-escalate the scene while the police presence ramped up.

As police moved in, we linked arms to defend the students.

Pictured left to right: Jill Stein, Deputy CM Kelly Merrill-Cayer, St. Louis Board Alderman Alisha Sommier, St. Louis Board Alder President Megan Green, and Campaign Manager Jason Call.

Absolutely none of the protesters instigated ANY violence. Police moved in, grabbed us, pushed us, struck us with their equipment, and began violently arresting people.

At least 4 cops dragged me to the ground. There was a brief, incredibly terrifying moment, where one cop put his knee into my back and I realized I couldn’t breathe.

It lasted all of 30 seconds. I yelled “I can’t breathe!” repeatedly until they let up. Afterwards, I couldn’t stop thinking about George Floyd who endured 9 tortuous minutes of that feeling until his life was snuffed out.

All told, I was detained for 7 hours. We got out around 2:00am local time. Around 100 people were arrested, most of us charged with trespassing – a few with resisting arrest.

This is my first protest arrest in 34 years of activism. I don’t regret a thing, but I am disgusted by the police conduct last night.

There was no instigating incident that justified a violent police response. Students were seated and eating snacks while we surrounded them with arms linked.

The violence from the officers had only one purpose: To squash future dissent.

And it won’t work.

The harder the cops crack down, the more we will resist. Our country is perpetuating a genocide – in our name and with our money. We won’t stop until Palestine is free.

The principal demand of Washington University students is for their school to divest from Boeing – a key manufacturer of munitions being used against the people of Gaza just 30 miles from campus.

My opponent has been on Boeing’s payroll for a quarter of a century, raking in massive campaign contributions from America’s war machine every year. This cycle alone he’s taken $10K in corporate PAC money from Boeing.

The choice for voters in WA-02 is clear. Do you want a congressman who cashes checks drawn from the profits of genocide? Or do you want a congressman who stands in solidarity with those trying to stop that genocide?

They can scream at us. They can beat us. They can arrest us. But they can’t stop justice from coming.

Palestine WILL be free.

“You can kill a revolutionary, but you can never kill the revolution.”

Fred Hampton

In solidarity,

Jason Call