HONOLULU (KHON2) — Protests have been a time-honored tradition in the United States from the moment the colonists decided to through all of King George’s tea into the waters of Boston Harbor.

According to The Hill, the President of the United States (POTUS) has launched a threat to cancel funding to universities that allow their students to protest.

The Hill reported that POTUS posted the following on social media: “All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came,” wrote POTUS.

He further wrote: “American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”  

Here’s what we know:

1. Trump’s threat to block federal funding

POTUS announced that he is seeking to block federal funding for colleges and universities that allow “illegal protests” on their campuses. We were not given a definition of what an “illegal protest” is.

2. Potential consequences for protests

POTUS claimed that “agitators” who are involved in illegal protests would be imprisoned or deported to their country of origin. He also indicated that students who are U.S. citizens who are involved in protests may potentially be expelled or arrested, but that depends on the “crime”.

3. Prohibition of masks

In his post, POTUS also emphasized that “NO MASKS” are allowed during protests on campuses. This was not qualified regarding local mask mandates that may appear due to local health threats.

4. Review of Columbia University’s funding

The post followed an announcement from multiple federal agencies that said they may possibly review contracts and grants with Columbia University due to allegations of antisemitism on the university’s campus.

5. Previous statements on deporting foreign students

POTUS had previously made similar statements about deporting foreign students who participate in protests. He has mentioned in prior statements that students would have more incentive to “behave” if they feared being thrown out of the U.S. as a consequence for their actions.

6. Incident at Barnard College

The post came several days after a reported incident at Barnard College. In the scenario, there were pro-Palestinian protesters who allegedly injured an employee. That employee later required hospitalization.

You can click here to read more about it.

Hawaiʻi’s universities aren’t typically hosts to lots of protests. However, if POTUS deems actions by any of Hawaiʻi’s universities that receive federal funding to be against his wishes, then there is a very likely chance that our universities can also have funding pulled.

We’ll have more updates as this unfolds. It comes in the wake of POTUS making a move to curtail gun rights in Washington D.C.

This is what the U.S. Constitution says about protests:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

You can click here to read more about the U.S. Constitution.

The Constitution does not identify or define “Illegal” protests.