Pro-Palestinian encampment enters Day 7 on University of Pennsylvania's campus
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Pro-Palestinian protesters remained at the University of Pennsylvania encampment Wednesday as police removed signs and cut zip ties along the barricades.
Penn student Eliana Atienza is among the protesters living inside the encampment.
"Being here by Day 7 is a testament to our community power. The fact that we are still here. We are still organizing and advocating for the cause. That is a testament to our power," she said.
Ben Messafi, a Penn student who is also Jewish, said he is disappointed the university has yet to remove the protesters from campus.
"This is not an environment that we want to be in. We don't feel safe. We don't feel supported by the administration," Messafi said.
Another student said the protesters have used their concern for what's happening in Gaza "as an excuse to harass people on campus."
An unidentified man was taken into custody after he was seen spraying an unknown liquid around the encampment. It's unclear what the liquid was at this time.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and City Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier visited with protesters. The two city leaders got a first-hand look at the encampment.
"They have a right to protest. They have a right to free speech," Gauthier said.
Krasner and Gauthier both said their goal is for the protest to stay peaceful. They hope the university and organizers of the protests can engage in meaningful conversation to come up with a reasonable resolution.
"We don't have to do stupid. What we should be doing is upholding our tradition by being a welcoming inviting city where we people say things even if other people don't like them," Krasner said.
