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2024 University of Pennsylvania pro-Palestine campus encampment

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2024 University of Pennsylvania pro-Palestine campus encampment
Part of pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses and Israel-Hamas war protests in the United States
Benjamin Franklin statue on UPenn Campus with a Palestinian Keffiyeh during first day of encampment
DateApril 25–May 10, 2024
(2 weeks and 1 day)
Location
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Caused by
GoalsUniversity of Pennsylvania's divestment from Israel
Methods
Resulted inProtesters suppressed
  • PPD raids campus on May 10th
  • Student participants suspended
Parties

Pro-Palestinian groups:

Gaza Solidarity Encampment:

  • Penn Against the Occupation

On April 25th, students at University of Pennsylvania began an encampment to protest the ongoing Israel–Hamas war and to call for divestment from Israel.[1][2][3] The occupation, named the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment,"[3] was part of a series of 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. On May 10th, the encampment was raided and protesters were arrested, ending the occupation.[2]

Background

The campus had been embroiled in controversy for months following the resignation of Liz Magill after backlash to a congressional hearing.[4] The university had suspended a pro-Palestinian student organization, Penn Against the Occupation, on April 20th for failing to comply with university policies. The student group alleged the investigation to suspend the organization had not been completed, and no clear criteria for the removal of the group had been given.[5] Penn's MSA and Penn Israel Public Affairs Committee attempted to seek dueling referendums for the student body calling alternatively for a vote to divest or maintain investments in Israel.[6]

Timeline

April 25th - May 9th: Encampment

Marches from Philadelphia City Hall, a faculty walkout, along with student protesters from Drexel were coordinated to arrive on UPenn campus, to set up an encampment on the campus' College Green area.[7][8][9]

On April 28th, a man with a pro-Israel shirt and a knife holster entered a Passover Seder held in the encampment, before having his knifes confiscated and being arrested.[10] UPenn fire marshals swept the encampment for "fire hazards" the same day.[10] Protesters led a controversial chant, “Al Qassam, make us proud, take another soldier down” while the Split Button monument in front of the Van Pelt Library was graffitied.[10]

On April 29th, a self-identified Christian Zionist confronted protesters with a large Israeli flag and attempted to argue and yell for two hours before being asked to move away from the encampment by a university official.[10]

On May 1, the seventh day of the encampment at the University of Pennsylvania, a man was arrested after spraying the encampment with an unknown chemical substance.[11]

On May 8, the encampment expanded to additional areas on College Green, in response to alleged "continued bad-faith negotiation" by administration.[12]

May 10: Police raid, and subsequent protest

On May 10th, police entered the encampment and dismantled tents, signs, and other belongings.[13] Police and city workers destroyed students' tents, flags and other encampment supplies while disbanding the encampment at the University of Pennsylvania.[14] 33 protesters were arrested, including 9 UPenn students, although they were soon after released.[15] 5 UPenn faculty were also arrested for attempting to physically block police vehicles.[16] In response, UPenn's Faculty Senate chair resigned, citing the response of the university to use the police.[17]

A protest was organized hastily against the interim president Larry Jameson's on-campus house. A "primal scream" was held against the president, inspired by a similar protest against Columbia University President Minouche Shafik.[15] During the scream, the gate to the house grounds was shaken by protesters before being forced open, allowing two protesters to enter the grounds of the house before immediately being repelled.[18] Protesters alleged two instances of police aggression, causing the march to pause for some minutes until a medic could take care of a protester.[15]

May 18: Attempted occupation

A group of students attempted to occupy Fisher Bennett Hall on campus, renaming it to Refaat Alareer Hall, in response to the disbandment of the encampment and alleged "series of escalations by Penn administration".[19] The occupation was unsuccessful and police arrested 19 protesters, including 7 UPenn students.[19] One arrested protester was noted to be throwing up, and had to seek medical support after police stated she had "hit her head".[19] Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered soon after the arrests, while police maintained barricades.[19] Protesters, after gathering around Fisher Bennett Hall, moved towards a UPenn alumni event being held and disrupted the event from outside the gates of the Penn Museum, causing it to end early.[19]

Aftermath

An encampment was established on Drexel University, just north of UPenn campus, on May 19th.[20] Some senior students from UPenn who had participated in the encampment were not permitted to graduate on May 20th, prompting protests.[21][22] Penn Against the Occupation and some students alleged harassment and targeted behavior from some guards for wearing a keffiyah during graduation day.[23] Administration banned 24 non-affiliates who had been in the encampment from campus.[24] Administration also forced mandatory suspension on up to 6 students, and forcibly suspended 4 students for up to 1-2 semesters for their involvement with pro-Palestinian advocacy.[25]

Responses

Governor Josh Shapiro called on the university to disband the encampment.[26] After the disbandment, both Shapiro and Senator Bob Casey Jr. praised the university's decision.[27]

A referendum held by UPenn's Muslim Students Association calling for the administration to disclose and divest from Israel was held. More than 65% of the student population voted to divest, though university president Jameson rebuffed the results and reiterated opposition to the measures.[28]

References

  1. ^ Staff, Daily Pennsylvanian. "LIVE UPDATES: Penn encampment enters first night as University warns of consequences". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  2. ^ a b Schwartz, Mattathias (2024-05-10). "Police Clear Pro-Palestinian Encampment at Penn". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  3. ^ a b Sohn, Ella. "Pro-Palestinian encampment on College Green brings nationwide student protests to Penn's campus". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-04-26. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  4. ^ Saul, Stephanie; Blinder, Alan; Hartocollis, Anemona; Farrell, Maureen (2023-12-09). "Penn's Leadership Resigns Amid Controversies Over Antisemitism". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  5. ^ Binday, Ben. "University bans pro-Palestinian student group Penn Against the Occupation from campus". www.thedp.com. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  6. ^ Bartlett, Katie (2024-04-25). "Penn students seek dueling referendums". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  7. ^ Sohn, Ella (2024-04-25). "Students to march at Philadelphia City Hall for Gaza". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  8. ^ Scolnick, Emily (2024-04-25). "Penn faculty to hold walkout at 4 p.m." The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  9. ^ Sohn, Ella (2024-04-25). "March joins Drexel students, turns towards Penn". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  10. ^ a b c d Wong, Chenyao Liu, Derek. "In Photos: 100 hours at the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on College Green". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. ^ Tomczuk, Jack (2024-05-01). "Tensions continue as Penn pro-Palestine encampment stretches to 7th day – Metro Philadelphia". Metro. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-02.
  12. ^ Young, Ethan. "Penn's Gaza Solidarity Encampment expands following 'continued bad-faith' negotiations with admin". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  13. ^ Bartlett, Jared Mitovich, Katie. "Penn dismantles Gaza Solidarity Encampment on College Green, disposing of tents, flags, and signs". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Greenberg, Zoe (May 10, 2024). "Tents, Palestinian flags thrown in the trash". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  15. ^ a b c Scolnick, Emily. "Thirty-three Gaza Solidarity Encampment members, including nine Penn students, released after arrests". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  16. ^ Wang, Diamy. "Penn professors led away from 34th and Walnut streets during protest". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  17. ^ Bartlett, Ethan Young, Katie. "Faculty Senate chair suddenly resigns, citing Penn's response to pro-Palestinian encampment". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Sohn, Neema Baddam, Emily Scolnick , Katie Bartlett, Ella. "Pro-Palestinian protesters enter gates of Penn president's house during march against encampment sweep". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-19. Retrieved 2024-05-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ a b c d e Baddam, Neema. "A timeline of arrests, protests after the attempted takeover of Fisher-Bennett Hall". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-18. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
  20. ^ Keating, Ryan; Ahmed, Zaryab (2024-05-19). "Gaza Solidarity Encampment set up at Korman Quad". The Triangle. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  21. ^ Sohn, Emily Scolnick , Katie Bartlett, Ella. "Students denied entry to College graduation amid discipline over encampment involvement, Penn says". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Sohn, Ella (2024-05-20). "Several protesters demonstrate outside College graduation ceremony". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  23. ^ Bartlett, Katie (2024-05-20). "Student alleges "targeted" behavior from security guard against graduate wearing keffiyeh". The Daily Pennsylvanian. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  24. ^ Young, Ethan. "Penn bans 24 non-affiliates arrested at Gaza Solidarity Encampment from campus". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-23. Retrieved 2024-05-23.
  25. ^ Young, Ethan. "Penn suspends four students involved in recent campus activism, local pro-Palestinian groups say". www.thedp.com. Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  26. ^ "Governor Shapiro calls on Penn to disband encampment; 6 students placed on temporary leave". 6abc Philadelphia. 2024-05-10. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  27. ^ Wang, Diamy. "Shapiro, Casey praise Penn's decision to disband encampment amid local politician 'disappointment'". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-21. Retrieved 2024-05-21.
  28. ^ Bartlett, Neema Baddam, Katie. "Penn rebuffs student referendum vote in favor of divestment from Israel". www.thedp.com. Archived from the original on 2024-07-01. Retrieved 2024-07-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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