Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, now serving as the chancellor of Queen's University-Belfast in Northern Ireland, is no stranger to controversy and protests by individuals and groups on the right and the left who disagree with her stances on various political issues and policies.

A student group is now holding the university's senior leadership accountable for the "divisive atmosphere" on campus after three pro-Palestinian activists were arrested and charged amid a protest against Clinton last week, according to the Belfast Telegraph.

The group raised legitimate "concerns" about the safety of other students and staff members who may face intimidation tactics and even violence over political disagreements from activists who've typically been granted free rein to do whatever they want without consequences by the school.

Pro-Palestinian protesters voice opposition to Clinton, clash with police

Last week, according to The Irish Times, Clinton had to be temporarily "whisked away" to a safe location after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with the police outside a conference she was slated to speak at as part of the three-day Global Innovation Summit 2024 at Queen's University-Belfast.

At least four of those protesters were arrested, and the activist group that loudly and emphatically voiced their disagreements with Clinton's generally pro-Israel position amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, later moved their protest from the campus to outside the police station to express their support for and demand the release of those who'd been taken into custody.

"Police have arrested four men following public order offenses in the University Road area of south Belfast. The men were arrested on suspicion of numerous offenses and remain in police custody at this time," a police spokesperson said Thursday night. "Officers will remain in the south Belfast area this evening and a full robust investigation will follow in due course."

Three arrested activists criminally charged

According to a Friday BBC report, three of those protesters have now been criminally charged and are due in court next month while the fourth, a 57-year-old man, was released from custody with charges.

The three protesters, who range in age from 18 to 21, all face charges of resisting arrest while two also face a charge of obstructing police and one was charged with assaulting the police. The police said that an unspecified number of officers were injured in the clashes with the pro-Palestinian protesters.

At the same time, the university claimed that an unnamed "senior staff member" at the university had received a "viable threat on their life" following the anti-Clinton protest on Thursday, as well as that several students had also been threatened and at least three staff members had been injured during the unruly protest.

The police declined to discuss the specifics of the alleged threats but sought to reassure the public that "appropriate action" would result in anyone was truly at risk of harm.

Students speak out against school's "divisive atmosphere" in which only the "angriest, loudest voices" get heard

According to the Belfast News Letter, a student group known as the Democratic Unionist Association sent a letter to Queen's University leadership to demand accountability for the "increasingly divisive atmosphere on campus" that had led to violence and intimidation against staff and students as well as the protest that was "unflattering and unrepresentative of the wider student body."

"Many are concerned about the demonstration descending into violence" and are worried by "chanting directed against police, university staff, and political leaders," all of which they linked to "the creation of an atmosphere where the angriest, loudest voices are treated as the most valid."

"We want to underline our commitment to ensuring Queen’s is an open forum discussion between students of different political perspectives and persuasions," the student group asserted, "while maintaining the safety of students and staff in going about their day-to-day studies and work without the fear of reputational or physical harm coming their way for holding a different viewpoint."

In response, a spokesperson for the university said, "We understand that the events of the last week have been divisive and appreciate that such incidents can be unsettling for everyone involved, but they are a rare occurrence at the university," and added, "We urge all staff and students to express any concerns directly to the university to enable engagement in meaningful discussions for a safe and progressive environment across the university community."