George Washington University rejects pro-Palestine protesters’ demands to divest from Israel
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — In a letter sent to student groups Friday morning, George Washington University (GW) officials remained firm in their refusal of pro-Palestine protesters’ demands.
The letter was sent after protesters returned to campus Thursday night, despite the Metropolitan Police Department clearing their encampment and arresting 33 people on Wednesday.
In the letter, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Colette Coleman wrote: “As a registered student organization in good standing with the university that represents GW Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim students, GW invites you to engage in a dialogue regarding concerns raised during recent protests in a mutually respectful environment.”
Pro-Palestine protesters return to George Washington University day after police break up encampment
Organizations were invited to meet with Coleman, as well as President Ellen Granberg, Provost Chris Bracey and Chief Financial Officer Bruno Fernandes to discuss broad community concerns, such as free speech and Islamophobia on campus.
Although the invitation was meant to create a dialogue, Coleman firmly stated that the university would not consider any changes to its endowment investment strategy, academic partnerships or SRR processes, rejecting the demands protesters had been making for weeks.
In a student-led press briefing, people said the meeting was initially scheduled for 1 p.m., the most important prayer time for Muslims. The meeting was later rescheduled for that afternoon.
Students were not happy about the initial time of the meeting – and the fact that the university already decided it would not divest.
“There is no dialogue when this university’s administration has pursued the most punitive and oppressive measures under the sun against its own students and there is no dialogue when in their invitation to meet they reaffirm that they will not consider changes to GW’s endowment investment strategy academic partnership or establish students’ rights or responsibilities proceedings,” said Reem Lababdi, a GW student during the press briefing.
DC police clear pro-Palestine encampment at George Washington University; demonstrators arrested
“How can we engage in productive conversation when your engagement with our community is so limited that you fail to make the conversation accessible? We see through the irony,” she added.
“We affirm that despite your commitment to genocide, we will continue to push for all of our demands and we will not rest till you divest,” said another student.
The demonstrators, who set up their encampment on April 25, have been calling for a free Palestine, demanding GW divest from any businesses that support the Israel-Hamas war.
In an update, GW said leaders met with representatives from eight Arab, Muslim and Palestinian student organizations on Friday afternoon.
“The students used the meeting to share their personal stories and perspectives and outline their requests to the university. University leaders used this space to listen and open lines of dialogue with students while reiterating their commitment to ensuring safety and free expression at GW for all student communities,” the update read.
Robert Valentine said he was part of the negotiating team that met with GW leaders.
“We were able to discuss and set on the table our demands and make sure they understood and that we are less interested in causal dialogue and general condolences that had been expressed by institutions,” said Valentine, a GW student.
University leaders reiterated to the students that the university is not considering any changes to its current partnerships.
Students say the conversation wasn’t sufficient.
“We understand that issues like divestment and other financial issues are not things that happen instantaneously, but the university has presented no willingness to even commit towards any material actions in those areas,” said Valentine. “For now, we want to see some form of commitment that the university does have some concerning care for the well-being and humanity of Palestinian students and anti-zionist students on this campus.”
The students said their next meeting is tentatively scheduled for this Sunday.
“We will continue on our negotiation process to achieve that material change over the summer,” said Kali Sen, a George Washington University student.
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