Student encampment now gone at Case Western Reserve University
CLEVELAND (WJW) – Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Case Western Reserve University have ended their encampment on campus, citing concerns for their safety. This comes after 11 days of standing their ground and protesting the Israel-Hamas war.
Overnight, a few people remained, cleaning up tents and protest gear from the scene of their encampment on the Kelvin Smith Library Oval. The site was among the growing number of protests nationwide demanding academic institutions divest from companies supplying arms to Israel amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
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A representative of the protest group, in a Friday morning statement to FOX 8 News, said the group decided to “reassess” its encampment after “alarming incidents” of threats and assaults against demonstrators by “non-student extremist agitators.”
The statement said the group “remains dedicated” to pressuring university administrators into divestment from Israel. It’s planning for “sustained dialogue with university officials” and may consider future encampments, it said.
“We are determined to continue our advocacy through all available means,” a spokesperson said. “Our commitment to justice and peace is stronger than ever, and we believe in the power of sustained, peaceful protest to effect meaningful change.”
Before commencement celebrations kick off next week, university President Eric Kaler in a Friday message said facilities workers will “restore” protest sites, removing “graffiti” and posters glued to the doors and windows of university buildings and repairing damage to the oval.
The university is also requiring anyone planning a demonstration from now through May 20 to request a reservation, which must be approved by a student affairs official.
“Commencement is a celebration of the culmination of years of hard work and knowledge gained. For many, especially the undergraduates who graduated high school in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, it may mark the first time they’ve walked across the stage after earning a diploma. And for those parents, spouses, grandparents, children and friends in attendance, it’s an opportunity to watch their loved ones be recognized as the exceptional scholars and people they are,” Kaler wrote.
“This day cannot be tarnished for our graduates and their guests, many of whom are traveling from across the country or around the world.”
The school has stood by the fact that any protesters remaining this week were considered trespassers and said they would take legal action against those who violate policy.
While the protests remained somewhat peaceful over the past week and a half, they did ramp up this week.
Several hundred demonstrators were seen late Wednesday marching to the University’s administration building, which forced employees there to work from home.
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Then on Thursday, a small number of protesters remained at the building, blocking entrances and gluing signs to the walls.
Thursday was Case’s last day of finals and the school year has now come to an end.
Next week, graduation events start on Wednesday. The university said those events will take place as scheduled but will increase security measures.
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