DePaul University students begin encampment protesting war in Gaza

Christine Flores
·1 min read
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CHICAGO — Students at DePaul University on Tuesday joined those at a growing number of colleges across the nation in protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict and in support of cutting financial ties with Israel.

Dozens setup an encampment on the university’s quad in the morning, with about 150 people participating in the demonstration throughout the day.

“This is a coalition of individual students coming together to support the divestment from companies that support the Palestinian suffering, the Israeli apartheid or the illegal Israeli settlements,” student organizer Henna Ayesh told WGN.

She said students want financial transparency about where university is being invested.

“Especially since we’ve had administrators specifically tell us that they are investing in companies that support these kinds of things,” Ayesh said. “I do not want to be involved in my family’s suffering. I’m Palestinian. I have family back home.”

University of Chicago students start encampment

Northwestern Univ. reaches agreement with students over protests

In a statement, university leadership said they were devoted to academic freedom and free speech, adding: “We have listened to the concerns raised within our university community, and we see that many are hurting right now. Our first hope is that we can find a way to turn this pain into productive dialogue and action that leads to positive change.”

Organizers said they’d received donations of food and water from various organizations and were prepared for people to remain overnight.

After beginning at Columbia University in New York City, similar demonstrations have taken place at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University. Administrators at the U of C have threatened disciplinary action for those violating school policy, which would include setting up tents. Northwestern students have begun removing their tents after coming to an agreement with the university.

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