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]
| 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 | ||
| Date | April 25–May 10, 2024 (2 weeks and 1 day) | |
| Location | ||
| Caused by |
| |
| Goals | University of Pennsylvania's divestment from Israel | |
| Methods | ||
| Resulted in | Protesters suppressed
| |
| Parties | ||
| ||
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
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