University of Chicago police clear out encampments protesting war on Gaza
CHICAGO — University of Chicago police cleared out anti-war encampments set up by students protesting Israel’s war on Gaza on the school’s main quad early Tuesday morning.
On what would have been the ninth day of encampment, university police entered the school’s Main Quad dressed in riot gear, tearing down tents, anti-war signs and began to block off many entrances around 4:00 a.m.
Police dispersed flyers into the crowd with a final warning before students would be arrested.
The flyer stated that students who would be arrested will face disciplinary charges and be placed on disciplinary leave of absence. The arrest wound be for criminal trespassing.
University of Chicago faculty members speak out in support of student protestors
A number of protestors moved out of the quad and towards the west side of the quad.
President of University of Chicago Paul Alivisatos released a statement saying that although protest is a strongly protected form of speech in the UChicago culture, these protests interfered with free expression, learning and work of others.
The encampments were removed early Tuesday morning.
“Over multiple days, including through the weekend, we engaged with the representatives of the encampment to work toward a resolution. There were areas where we were able to achieve common ground, but ultimately a number of the intractable and inflexible aspects of their demands were fundamentally incompatible with the University’s principled dedication to institutional neutrality. As such, we could not come to a resolution.
While crews cleaned up what was left on the quad, the protests continued just outside the quad entrance. They were issued a final warning to leave or risk arrest with some clearly willing to take the risk with emergency phone numbers written on their arms.
Police and anti-war protestors did get into a brief shoving match but despite the tension, they held their ground until the university, without warning or explanation lifted the barricades and opened the quad.
The university and student demonstrators met over several days to negotiate the and while finding some agreement talks ultimately fell through. Their demands included more transparency in the university’s investments and divestment from businesses working with Israel.
One student demonstration, Sammy, said that they will be back and keep protesting until the genocide is over and Palestine is free.
University of Chicago student Lucas Borja says the school should take accountability for their actions upon students Tuesday morning.
“I think the first step is making sure the university is held accountable for the horrors it inflicted on its students this morning. Very long path the university will have to take in repairing those relationships,” Borja said.
No arrests were made, and demonstrators left the quad around 9 a.m.
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