Pro-Palestinian protesters at University of Minnesota meet with interim president
MINNEAPOLIS — An encampment set up by pro-Palestinian student protesters stands for a second-straight day at the University of Minnesota in defiance of police calls to disperse overnight Wednesday.
The student-led protest group met with the U's interim president, Jeff Ettinger, to present their demands Wednesday morning.
The group said it has six demands:
- Divest from groups like Honeywell and General Dynamics
- Academic divestment from Israeli universities
- Transparency about university investments
- Statement in support of Palestinian students
- Statement in support of Palestinians' right to self-determination
- Amnesty for arrested students
They say they will not rest until all of their demands are met.
"We have been very clear about the intent of this encampment. It is to pressure the university administration to acquiesce to our demands, and we will remain in this encampment until either our demands are met or we are removed by force," said a protest organizer named Emily.
"I think people are restless with the university not doing anything," student protester Merlin Vanalstin, a senior, said. "I think people are excited to see what comes of this meeting. Just another push to continue going if we need to. "
After the meeting, Ettinger released the following statement:
"We had a very constructive dialogue this morning. The meeting had been scheduled for a half-hour but instead we spoke for an hour and a half because we were engaged in good conversation. Both those involved with the protest and our University leaders need to go back and discuss possible outcomes from today's meeting with our colleagues. When we have updates to share, we will provide those."
Overnight, protesters chanted and formed a human chain around the encampment, which now has a medic and supply tent. Organizers say campus police made several attempts to disperse the crowd but ultimately left them alone.
A spokesperson for the U says students have been notified they are violating its trespass policy, but added, "it was never the goal to conduct arrests."
This comes as 13 buildings on the East Bank of campus remain closed for a third day, all while students prepare for final exams that begin on Thursday. The U says it will continue to assess the situation day by day.
Meanwhile, the local Teamsters union is demanding the U reopen all the buildings closed because of the protests. In an online petition, the union said, "These closures are causing enormous hardships for union employees who work in these buildings."
The union is also demanding the U pay their workers regardless of the protests.
While the scene in Minneapolis was peaceful overnight, violence erupted on other U.S. campuses. Police moved in on an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Wisconsin's Madison campus on Wednesday morning and have taken away several protesters.
New York City police arrested dozens of protesters at Columbia University. It came after the deadline passed for protesters to leave.
Police used flash-bang grenades to distract students who had taken over Hamilton Hall. Police say they had barricaded the doors with chairs and tables. Columbia officials have asked police to keep a presence on campus through May 17, with commencement set for May 15.
Dozens of pro-Israel counter-protesters are trying to tear down a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA. CBS News reports the Israel supporters launched fireworks into the encampment and set off what may have been bear or pepper spray. Demonstrators on the pro-Palestinian side were seen using umbrellas as shields.
It comes just hours after UCLA's chancellor called the encampment unlawful.
"It just increases our solidarity with the students across the country. We see everybody standing up for what's right. It just makes us feel more powerful as students knowing that we can do that too and nothing will stop us," Vanalstin said. "The students are strong. We're going to fight back. We're the future of this country. We want it to be as good as it can be for us and for future generations after us."
