Pro-Palestinian protestors briefly occupy building on University of Chicago campus

Gabriel Castillo
·2 min read
6

CHICAGO — A group of Pro-Palestinian protestors briefly occupied a building on the University of Chicago campus in Hyde Park on Friday afternoon, according to a report from the independent student newspaper The Chicago Maroon.

At around 5 p.m., a group of protestors occupied the Institute of Politics building, along South University Avenue, as another group of protestors gathered outside the building.

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The Maroon reported that the protestors, who are demanding the university divest from companies with Israeli ties, brought chairs into the building, locked the doors and spray-painted security cameras on their way in.

SkyCam9 was over the scene around 5:30 p.m. when Chicago police officers could also be seen near the building.

It is currently unclear if students organized or are participated in the demonstrations.

“At approximately 4:40 p.m. Friday, a group of masked protesters unlawfully occupied the Institute of Politics building on South Woodlawn Ave. at the University of Chicago. Protesters attempted to bar the entrance, damaged University property and ignored directives from UCPD officers to clear the way. UCPD officers were able to enter the building and the protesters inside the building exited.

“The University of Chicago is fundamentally committed to upholding the rights of protesters to express a wide range of views. At the same time, University policies make it clear that protests cannot jeopardize public safety, disrupt the University’s operations, or involve the destruction of property,” Assistant Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs Jeremy Manier said in a statement on Friday evening.

Friday’s protest came a little over a week after university officials cleared out a tent encampment on the school’s main quad that had been set up by students protesting Israel’s war on Gaza.

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The students demanded divestment and more transparency in the university’s investments.

The decision followed several days of discussions between protestors and university officials that ultimately ended without an agreement.

Demonstrators eventually left the quad by 9 a.m. Tuesday and no arrests were made.

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