Pro-Palestine protest at University of Utah declared ‘unlawful assembly,’ demonstrators told to leave or be arrested

UPDATE: 17 arrested, officer injured during pro-Palestine protest at University of Utah

UPDATE 4/30 12:21 a.m. — Protesters were asked by police to continue dispersing.

Some protesters have told ABC4.com that they plan to return the next day.

1300 E has reopened at 200 S. The perimeter began to retreat.

UPDATE 4/30 12:04 a.m. — Police have asked protesters to disperse to the north and to the west.

Remaining demonstrators have been moved to 1300 E and 200 S.

UPDATE 4/30 12:02 a.m. — The protesters have been moved a full block off of University of Utah.

Emotions are high as protesters are expressing their disapproval of being moved by police while on public property.

UPDATE 4/29 11:39 p.m. — Demonstrators began spreading the word on social media and by word-of-mouth at the protest that demonstrators are moving to rally at the Salt Lake County Metro Jail.

UPDATE 4/29 11:28 p.m. — Police told protesters, “We are ordering you to disperse. If you do not comply, you will be arrested.”

Police have begun to move protesters off the campus.

UPDATE 4/29 11:23 p.m. — Some protesters were seen running in the opposite direction from the officers.

UPDATE 4/29 11:16 p.m. — Some protesters began moving their tents.

Police issued another warning to demonstrators that if they do not leave, they may be arrested.

UPDATE 4/29 11:04 p.m. — Police officers at the University of Utah asked members of the media to move.

Protesters were still standing arm-in-arm, but police began to move toward the protesters an hour after they warned demonstrators of possible arrests and possible force after declaring the situation an “unlawful assembly.”

UPDATE 4/29 10:51 p.m. — No arrests had been made nearly 40 minutes after police gave protesters 10 minutes to clear the area.

More officers showed up with protective gear.

UPDATE 4/29 10:14 p.m. — Officials with the University of Utah added to their statement and said that Salt Lake City Police and the Utah Highway Patrol will assist with disbanding the structures and making arrests “as needed.”

“The University of Utah will continue to preserve and protect the right to free speech on our campus within the reasonable limits established under law,” the university said.

UPDATE 4/29 10:03 p.m. — Police at the scene made a fourth announcement and declared the protest on the University of Utah campus an “unlawful assembly.”

Police ordered demonstrators to disperse and said those who left peacefully would not be arrested.

“You must comply with our orders immediately. If you remain, you will be arrested,” police said in the announcement.

Police said those who remain will be arrested, and that “reasonable force may be used.”

UPDATE 4/29 9:47 p.m. — The University of Utah’s Department of Public Safety issued a statement regarding the protesters on campus hours into the demonstration.

The University said it “preserves and protects the right to free speech” on its campus — but it also acknowledged “reasonable limits.”

“Students, faculty, staff and community members, you have the right to express your viewpoint and we have heard you,” the statement said. “You do not, however, have the right to set up structures or camp overnight. You are violating Utah state law and University of Utah free speech policy.”

Protesters were asked to take down their tents immediately or have their tents removed by law enformcement.

The university also outlined the consequences that protesters could face, such as suspension for students, termination for faculty and staff members and “criminal trespass and disorderly conduct charges” for students, faculty, staff and community members alike.

ORIGINAL STORY: Students, community members join pro-Palestine protest at University of Utah

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — Universities across the United States have been the site of pro-Palestine protests in recent weeks. On Monday, some Utahns took to the University of Utah campus in Salt Lake to show their support for Palestine.

Hundreds of students and community members were protesting at the U of U in solidarity with Palestine — and some even set up tents on campus in preparation to continue the protest until their demands are met.

“We will not be ending our rally,” one speaker said at the protest. “We will stay here until the University of Utah agrees to meet our demands.”

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The protesters’ demands

The demands of the protesters include financial divestment, academic divestment, disclosure of finances, full amnesty for students, negotiations with administrators and the end of policing on campus.

According to Merriam-Webster, to divest means “to deprive or dispossess especially of property, authority, or title.”

The protesters are asking the U of U to distance itself from “war-profiteering companies” — with speakers giving examples such as Lockheed Martin and other companies.

The protesters were also fighting for the school to end its study abroad program in Israel (which fell under their demand for “academic divestment”).

Additionally, one of the demands of the protesters was for the full disclosure of finances. A speaker at the protest said, because the U of U is a public university, it is “obligated to be transparent about the investments and connections.”

“As students, we have the right to know where our tuition money is going,” the speaker said.

Likely in connection to student protesters at other universities being suspended or facing other backlash, the protesters at the University of Utah were demanding full amnesty for students.

“Students do not deserve punishment for exercising their First Amendment right to protest the use of our tuition and tax dollars to fund genocide,” the speaker said.

The final two demands were for immediate negotiations with administrators, such as the university’s president, and the end of “policing and persecution of oppressed communities on campus.”

What organizers and protesters said about the protest

“We are at a pivotal moment where students are saying, ‘We no longer accept what is happening and we are calling and demanding universities to divest and cut all ties from Israel,” Gaby Merida, Mecha De U of U organizer said.

Some protesters traveled to Salt Lake City just to show their support. Victoria Barrie traveled from Layton, and told ABC4.com that she is staying as long as possible.

A professor of physics and astronomy at the U of U, Saveez Saffarian, said, “It’s a national moment. I think our university, our students are participating in that.”

What Utah officials said about the protest

University of Utah Police Administrative Captain Jason Hinojosa said there is extra staff on-hand for the protest.

“We’re here to preserve the peace and safety of the campus, but we’re also here to protect people’s First Amendment rights,” Hinojosa said.

Gov. Spencer Cox took to social media on the day of the protest to discuss his stance on the First Amendment. Gov. Cox’s statement is as follows:

The Utah Department of Public Safety also posted on social media on Monday, releasing a joint statement with the Salt Lake City Police and University of Utah Police.

The DPS said it supports the protesters’ “civil right to express themselves through freedom of speech,” but also pointed out that criminal activity — such as “property damage, unlawful assembly or camping, threats, or violent acts” — would not be tolerated.

The joint statement is as follows:

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