Anti-war protests continue Monday at U of M and Hamline, organizers set up encampment
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Updated: April 30, 4:45 p.m. | Posted: April 29, 12:29 p.m.
Students rallied and set up tents at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, as well as at Hamline University in St. Paul, as anti-war protests continue into a second week.
At the U of M, hundreds of protesters called on the school to divest from weapons manufacturers and companies tied to the Israeli military. The students also want the school to end study abroad programs in Israel.
At around 7:30 p.m., police gave dispersal orders, prompting many to link arms around the grassy area in front of Northrop Memorial Auditorum, where more than 30 tents stood.
Nine people were arrested for trespassing last week after organizers set up an encampment on campus, which university officials said violated campus policies.
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University officials announced some buildings on campus would be closed Monday afternoon.
At Hamline, protesters occupied Old Main — the building housing university administration — last Friday, seeking disclosure of any university financial ties with Israel.
After more than a day inside the building, organizers said, the university agreed to a meeting between protesters, Hamline University’s acting interim president Kathleen Murray and board of trustees chair Ellen Watters.
Hamline confirmed the meeting “regarding the university’s investments in companies doing business in the Middle East” in a statement on Monday and said it was “cordial, respectful and carried out in a spirit of good faith.”
The students occupying Old Main left the building, but an encampment continued on the lawn in front. The students say the college has told them they won’t break up the encampment, unless there is a crime. Senior Genavieve Billiet said they’ve had support from faculty, staff and other students.
“They’re amazing and the community support has been incredible,” Billiet said. “Like, everything over here has been donated from community members and faculty and other students. Yeah, a lot of really, really positive support from everyone.”
Encampment plans, community support
Organizers at the U of M called on students and staff to bring tents and tarps, along with other gear for an encampment.
Protesters renewed their earlier calls for cutting financial and other ties with companies and academic institutions with links to the Israeli military.
They’re also seeking amnesty for “all students, staff and faculty members disciplined or fired in the movement for Palestinian liberation,” including the nine people arrested last week.
Students were joined by faculty as well, and not just from the U. They included Sarah Combellick-Bidney, an Augsburg professor of political science and a self-described “anti-Zionist Jewish person for a free Palestine.”
“I think that the media is confusing a lot of concepts,” Combellick-Bidney said. “These protests are not antisemitic. There are many, many Jewish people, of students, faculty, staff, and community members who come to these protests.”
A handful of people waving white and blue Israeli flags stood near the protest. U sophomore John Greenspan said they represented Students Supporting Israel.
“There have been a lot of Jewish students and Zionist students who have come to me personally, who we’ve seen online, in chats talking about how they’re scared to be on campus, how they, you know, there’s not a voice supporting them.”
Greenspan says he’s seen posters on campus that say “Death to Zionists.”
University officials issued an advisory saying Coffman Student Union would be closing at 2 p.m. along with several other nearby campus buildings, including Northrop Auditorium, the Weisman Art Museum, Walter Library, Tate Lab and Ford, Hasselmo, Morrill, Johnston, Smith, Vincent Murphy and Kolthoff halls.
In addition to disclosing any financial ties with Israel — and divesting any ties that might exist — the students are calling on the university to create a social responsibility committee.
