Protesters released, pending charges, after U of M police remove pro-Palestinian encampment

Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside 14-A District Court awaiting details on the four people arrested in Ann Arbor, May 24, 2024 | Jon King

Four people who were arrested by University of Michigan campus police early Tuesday have been released, although they may still be charged.

The four were taken into custody after officers began clearing out the encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters from the Diag just before 6 a.m.

Melissa Overton, a spokesperson for U of M’s Division of Public Safety and Security, confirmed for the Michigan Advance that all four were released, but indicated charges are still pending. Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit told the Advance that his office had not received any police reports or charge requests.

Overton said officers issued three verbal warnings over a 15-minute period, “asking the approximately 50 people who were in the encampment to leave voluntarily before being subject to arrest.”

In a statement issued Tuesday morning, University President Santa Ono said the decision to clear the encampment was made after a Friday inspection by the university fire marshal determined that were a fire to occur, “a catastrophic loss of life was likely.” 

“[T]he fire marshal and Student Life leaders asked camp occupants to remove external camp barriers, refrain from overloading power sources, and stop using open flames,” said Ono. “The protesters refused to comply with these requests. That forced the university to take action and this morning, we removed the encampment.”

University of Michigan spokesperson Colleen Mastony said while the university recognizes the importance of free speech and expression, it also have a duty to protect students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. 

“The disregard for safety directives was the latest in a series of troubling events centered on the encampment. Individuals will continue to be welcome to protest as they always have at the University of Michigan, so long as those protests do not infringe on the rights of others, endanger our community, violate the law or disrupt university operations,” said Mastony.

By mid-morning, crews were power-washing the Diag where the encampment had been, which remained cordoned off by campus police.

The protesters, meanwhile, had regrouped and gathered outside the 14-A District Court building several miles away, where they led a picket outside. Leading the group was Salma Hamamy, with the Students For Justice and Palestine chapter at the University of Michigan. She told the Advance that the rationale offered by Ono didn’t ring true.

“The structure of the encampment has remained the same for the last 30 days,“ she said. “I don’t see how anything new has caused a fire hazard. People are very easily able to walk in and out of the encampment and we have gatherings in there all the time. It’s a very open space. So I just genuinely feel like that’s an excuse for him to justify raiding the encampment.”

Cleaning crews power washing the Diag after the pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared out at the University of Michigan, May 21, 2024 | Jon King

Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside 14-A District Court awaiting details on the four people arrested in Ann Arbor, May 24, 2024 | Jon King

Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside 14-A District Court awaiting details on the four people arrested in Ann Arbor, May 24, 2024 | Jon King

Spots where some of the tents used to be located after the pro-Palestinian encampment was cleared out at the University of Michigan, May 21, 2024 | Jon King

Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered outside 14-A District Court awaiting details on the four people arrested in Ann Arbor, May 24, 2024 | Jon King

Hamamy, who was present when the police showed up, said the situation escalated very quickly, and despite being given a 10-minute warning to leave, that was cut short and officers moved in.

“They had their batons out. They came prepared in riot gear with tear gas and pepper spray, and every inch that they took and stepped forward, they used that to push students back,” said Hamamy. “The tents have very long metal poles. Those were essentially flying around, almost hitting students in the face, with very little regard to what the equipment might potentially do to harm people.“

Hamamy called it a “very unfortunate and frightening and traumatic experience,” but not one that would deter them.

“The movement lies within the people, not necessarily the tents that we put up within the encampment itself. And it’s still going to carry on, and it’s still going to persist, especially with these felony charges that we see coming out against more and more student protesters,” she said.

Tuesday’s arrests are just the latest escalation in the standoff between the university and protesters demanding a complete divestment from companies and institutions connected to Israel in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. 

On Thursday, Savit’s office announced charges had been filed against four individuals for assaulting police officers during a sit-in at Ono’s office. That announcement came a day after demonstrators appeared outside the homes of U of M’s Board of Regents, including Chair Sarah Hubbard and Regent Jordan Acker. 

Hubbard, meanwhile, took to social media to say that the decision to remove the encampment came after protesters fortified their position on campus with chicken wire and brought in piles of plywood.  

“They called upon others to join them to “resist” removal. The Fire Marshall indicated this created significant fire risk,” said Hubbard.

“We have supported their rights to free speech and diversity of thought even though they were violating numerous university policies.  We provided electricity, security and access to the protesters. We look forward to ongoing dialogue with all parties regarding this topic,” she said.

The post Protesters released, pending charges, after U of M police remove pro-Palestinian encampment appeared first on Michigan Advance.