Pro-Palestine protesters voluntarily shut down UVM encampment

Pro-Palestinian protesters began taking down their encampment at the University of Vermont on Wednesday, 10 days after students first erected the tents on the grass outside Andrew Harris Commons.

Local activists – who joined thousands of other college students around the country last month in protesting institutional ties to Israel – originally intended to stand their ground until UVM agreed to a series of demands. But protesters announced on Wednesday that, despite procuring only a few wins, they had made the “strategic decision” to dismantle the tents early.

“While the encampment served as an immensely useful tactical escalation, the time has now come for us to pivot our energy,” UVM Students for Justice in Palestine wrote on Instagram, adding that the administration has not been “negotiating in good faith.”

“As such, we choose to maintain our power and not hold out hope for half measures or lies when the calendar as it stands favors the administration,” protesters continued.

The encampment, which at its height comprised over 90 tents, was not all in vain, however. In 10 days of camping, protesters managed to convince UVM to meet two of five demands, including disclosing endowment investments and canceling this year’s commencement speaker, whom pro-Palestinian activists labeled as a “war criminal.”

“We have demonstrated that power lies with the people,” protesters said, adding that “because of our escalation, our movement has grown in size, organization, discipline and intelligence.”

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Protesters’ three other demands that UVM has yet to fulfill include cutting ties with weapons manufacturers and all companies connected to Palestine’s occupation, boycotting Israeli academic institutions and providing amnesty to all protesters.

When asked if UVM expects to concede any further ground to protesters, university spokesperson Adam White told the Free Press that “the administration will continue listening to students' concerns as we have throughout this process.”

What’s next for the movement?

Although no further concessions from the university appear to be in sight, students say their activism will continue beyond the encampment.

“The tide has turned and there is no going back,” protesters said on Wednesday via Instagram, adding that they “will not rest until the university divests from genocide and until Palestine is liberated.”

Students said their next steps will be to “research and thoroughly expose” the endowment investments UVM recently disclosed.

“Based on the disclosure that they have delivered thus far, the university’s credibility has been fundamentally damaged,” protesters said.

Will protesters receive consequences for illegal camping?

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian student protesters nationwide have faced consequences – including suspensions, expulsions and arrests – for camping illegally on college campuses.

UVM – which also prohibits the erection of unapproved temporary shelters and their occupancy from 8 p.m-8 a.m. – initially held off from disciplining students. But protesters said the administration started issuing notices of policy violation against students on Friday, May 3, the same day they canceled the commencement speaker.

“Those who continue to violate UVM policies do so intentionally despite having been given the opportunity to express themselves within campus rules,” UVM President Suresh Garimella said in a statement to students on May 3. “Therefore, regrettably, appropriate student conduct processes have been initiated for those who have persistently violated university policy.”

Students, however, say many of UVM’s allegations are “blatantly false and fabricated” and disproportionately target students of color.

“These intimidation and retaliation tactics of the university and illegal and they will fall,” protesters said on Wednesday over Instagram.

When asked about upcoming student disciplinary proceedings and to respond to student accusations, White said, “Federal privacy rules prevent us from commenting on individual disciplinary proceedings,” White said.

Megan Stewart is a government accountability reporter for the Burlington Free Press. Contact her at mstewartyounger@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: UVM Pro-Palestine encampment comes down after 10 days