SHELDON, TODAY, COMMUNITY GROUPS SHOWED UP IN SUPPORT OF THE PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY ENCAMPMENT. NEW VOICES CALL FOR THE END OF ISRAELI OCCUPATION. AN OPPRESSIVE STATE, AN APARTHEID STATE, A GENOCIDAL STATE AND A STATE WITH CLEAR MISSIONS TO FORCIBLY DISPLACE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FROM THEIR LAND. THERE WILL NOT BE PEACE UNTIL ALL PEOPLE LIVING IN PALESTINE SHARE THE SAME CITIZENSHIP AND THE SAME RIGHTS. REGARDLESS OF ORIGIN, LANGUAGE OR RELIGION. COMMUNITY GROUPS JOIN STUDENT PROTESTERS DEMANDING THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH DIVEST IN COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS WITH ISRAEL. THEY’RE ALSO PRESSURING LOCAL LEADERS AS WELL. WE ALSO REQUEST THAT OUR POLITICAL LEADERS, STARTING WITH OUR MAYOR, ED GAINEY, SITTING ON THE BOARD OF PITTSBURGH UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, TO NO LONGER IGNORE THE CALLS OF THEIR CITIZENS AND STUDENTS. THE PROTEST SITE IS ON A UNIVERSITY PROPERTY, AND THE INCIDENT IS IN THE JURISDICTION OF THE UNIVERSITY POLICE RIGHT NOW, OUR FOCUS IS ON KEEPING OUR CITY SAFE AND EVERYONE IN OUR CITY SAFE. HERE IS A STATEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH. IT SAYS THE DEMONSTRATION HAS BROUGHT DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY AND OTHER ACTIONS THAT DO NOT LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR PEACEFUL ADVOCACY OR OPEN DIALOG. A GROUP OF SELF-PROCLAIMED LEADERS HAS EMERGED ASKING FOR MEETINGS. BUT NONE OF THESE LEADERS ARE STUDENTS AND THEIR AFFILIATIONS ARE WITH ORGANIZATIONS THAT ALSO HAVE NO CONNECTION TO THE UNIVERSITY. HOWEVER, SENIOR LEADERSHIP REMAINS COMMITTED TO MEETING WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS AS THIS DEMONSTRATION CONTINUES, NO INCIDENTS WERE REPORTED TODAY DURING THE PROTEST, BUT IN OAKLAND, SHELDON INGRAM PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. THE HILLEL JEWISH UNIVERSITY CENTER, ALONG WITH THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PITTSBURGH, RELEASED A JOINT STATEMENT ON THESE ANTI-ISRAEL PROTESTS AT PITT, SAYING IN PART, QUOTE, THEIR MOTIVATION IS CLEAR TO THREATEN JEWISH SAFE SPACES AND MAKE -- FEEL UNWELCOME AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, THIS CURRENT CLIMATE OF INTOLERANCE AND DISCRIMINATION CANNOT BE IGNORED. THESE HATEFUL ACTS VIOLATE THE PRINCIPLES AND CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY THAT UNIVERSITIES CHERISH, AND THEY CREATE A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT THAT THREATENS THE EMOTIONAL
Pro-Palestinian protest moves into second day at the University of Pittsburgh
The protesters barricaded themselves in an encampment
Updated: 6:51 PM EDT Jun 3, 2024
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Following a day of unrest, the Palestinian Solidary Encampment at the University of Pittsburgh continues to simmer with anti-Israeli sentiments and demands placed upon the university.A large group of protesters convened on the University of Pittsburgh's campus Sunday night. Students and community members reestablished their encampment, calling once again on the university to take action by divesting in companies with business ties to the Israeli government.A dozen community groups held a demonstration outside the encampment to show support for students, faculty, and staff who are positioned there now."An apartheid state, an oppressive state, a genocidal state, and a state with clear missions to forcibly displace the Palestinian people from their land," said Rarim Alshurafa, member of the local Palestinian Solidarity Coalition.All of the groups echo the demands of those in the encampment that university Chancellor Joan Gabel meet with protestors about divesting in companies doing business with Israel."Some of the institutions have decided to come to the realization to cut ties with Israel, to right their wrong and stand on the right side of history," Alshurafa said. "We ask that the University of Pittsburgh do the same." Sunday's scene was larger and more hostile than a previous gathering in May, resulting in one arrest.On Monday morning, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 confirmed that the suspect is Donald Johnson, 33, of Pittsburgh.Pitt said the person arrested is not affiliated with the university. Johnson has been charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and obstruction. Protesters did not have a permit to gather and were told by police they were not allowed to bring food or cases of water into the encampment. That's when the peaceful protest took a turn. Protesters ran past police, bringing water bottles in one by one. Police then had to intervene and, at times, get physical. One of those protesters told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that Sunday did not mark any specific occasion for gathering, they just felt the time was right. A university spokesperson issued a statement, saying, "Destruction of property and other actions that do not lay the foundation for peaceful advocacy or open dialogue… A group of self-proclaimed leaders has emerged asking for meetings, but none of these leaders are students, and their affiliations are with organizations that also have no connection to the University...However, senior leadership remains committed to meeting with students, faculty and staff to hear concerns as this demonstration continues.""This is deeply painful on an existential and a moral and just a human level, and I think that begins to scratch the surface. That’s why the students are here tonight, that’s why we were here a month ago," said one Palestinian student. In a statement, the organization behind the protest says they are calling on the university for nine specific demands: Disclose all university investments Divest university finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine. Terminate all research partnerships with complicit companies Reject the normalization of ties with the Zionist regimeSupport Palestinians and Palestinian academics Remove the IHRA definition of antisemitism from the DEI website Issue a formal apology from Chancellor Gabel, as well as an acknowledgment, of her failing in her duties to protect Pitt community members and assure their rights Call on the DA to drop the charges against students arrested for peacefully protesting Assure the protection of First Amendment rights The group is also calling for the removal of all armed officers from campus.On Monday morning, protestors remained inside the encampment, which is now surrounded by police. Additional supporters gathered throughout the morning to show their support as well. University police are working with city of Pittsburgh police officers to monitor the situation, according to a university's spokesperson.
PITTSBURGH — Following a day of unrest, the Palestinian Solidary Encampment at the University of Pittsburgh continues to simmer with anti-Israeli sentiments and demands placed upon the university.
A large group of protesters convened on the University of Pittsburgh's campus Sunday night.
Students and community members reestablished their encampment, calling once again on the university to take action by divesting in companies with business ties to the Israeli government.
A dozen community groups held a demonstration outside the encampment to show support for students, faculty, and staff who are positioned there now.
"An apartheid state, an oppressive state, a genocidal state, and a state with clear missions to forcibly displace the Palestinian people from their land," said Rarim Alshurafa, member of the local Palestinian Solidarity Coalition.
All of the groups echo the demands of those in the encampment that university Chancellor Joan Gabel meet with protestors about divesting in companies doing business with Israel.
"Some of the institutions have decided to come to the realization to cut ties with Israel, to right their wrong and stand on the right side of history," Alshurafa said. "We ask that the University of Pittsburgh do the same."
Sunday's scene was larger and more hostile than a previous gathering in May, resulting in one arrest.
On Monday morning, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 confirmed that the suspect is Donald Johnson, 33, of Pittsburgh.
Pitt said the person arrested is not affiliated with the university.
Johnson has been charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and obstruction.
Protesters did not have a permit to gather and were told by police they were not allowed to bring food or cases of water into the encampment. That's when the peaceful protest took a turn. Protesters ran past police, bringing water bottles in one by one. Police then had to intervene and, at times, get physical. One of those protesters told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that Sunday did not mark any specific occasion for gathering, they just felt the time was right.
A university spokesperson issued a statement, saying, "Destruction of property and other actions that do not lay the foundation for peaceful advocacy or open dialogue… A group of self-proclaimed leaders has emerged asking for meetings, but none of these leaders are students, and their affiliations are with organizations that also have no connection to the University...However, senior leadership remains committed to meeting with students, faculty and staff to hear concerns as this demonstration continues."
"This is deeply painful on an existential and a moral and just a human level, and I think that begins to scratch the surface. That’s why the students are here tonight, that’s why we were here a month ago," said one Palestinian student.
In a statement, the organization behind the protest says they are calling on the university for nine specific demands:
- Disclose all university investments
- Divest university finances, including the endowment, from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine.
- Terminate all research partnerships with complicit companies
- Reject the normalization of ties with the Zionist regime
- Support Palestinians and Palestinian academics
- Remove the IHRA definition of antisemitism from the DEI website
- Issue a formal apology from Chancellor Gabel, as well as an acknowledgment, of her failing in her duties to protect Pitt community members and assure their rights
- Call on the DA to drop the charges against students arrested for peacefully protesting
- Assure the protection of First Amendment rights
The group is also calling for the removal of all armed officers from campus.
On Monday morning, protestors remained inside the encampment, which is now surrounded by police. Additional supporters gathered throughout the morning to show their support as well.
University police are working with city of Pittsburgh police officers to monitor the situation, according to a university's spokesperson.