Protestors reach agreement with U of I admin, relocate demonstration
URBANA, Ill. (WCIA) — The University of Illinois’ administration has issued two statements on Friday’s pro-Palestinian protest.
The first, sent out around 8 p.m., asked community members to stay away from the protest site and warned of consequences for the protestors who continued to demonstrate.
And at 11:31 p.m. as protestors started to leave after a 17-hour long demonstration, administration sent out a second Massmail, this time, saying that a “peaceful resolution” was reached.
In the first Massmail, Chancellor Robert Jones and Vice Chancellor John Coleman explained that the protest had included “unlawful and impermissible conduct by some.” For that reason, students, staff and faculty were asked to avoid the area near Wright and Green Streets until further notice.
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“This afternoon, when university police officers attempted to escort university staff into the area to remove the encampment structures violating university policy, members of the demonstrating group prevented their entry and physically resisted,” Jones and Coleman said. “This included use of pieces of lumber as well as other physical tools and objects to push the officers back. Our officers made the decision to deescalate the situation and stepped back to reduce the risk of injury to themselves or the demonstrators.”
The university administrators said the situation escalated beyond a peaceful expression of opinion and warned that those who did not comply with orders to leave the area would be subject to consequences like arrest. Students may also be given an interim suspension from the university.
“We will continue to work to convince the demonstrators to end their activities and disperse voluntarily, and we hope they make that choice,” Jones and Coleman added.
In the second Massmail, signed only by Chancellor Jones this time, he said after a resolution was reached in a meeting with organizers that was already scheduled for Monday, the demonstrators were to dismantle their encampment and leave, allowing them to temporarily relocate to the public access green space west of Gregory Avenue and north of Oregon street.
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“We reached this compromise to avoid a physical confrontation that would endanger demonstrators and our police officers alike,” Jones said.
He added the new location would be less disruptive in a “strictly defined area,” allowing for more of a separation between the demonstration and academic operations on Monday.
We are trusting the participants to honor their agreement with us in the interest of public safety. We have reached a very clear understanding with the participants that we will take immediate action to disperse the group if their activities present any new safety risks or violations of state or local law. I understand that this resolution will likely frustrate members of our community who have strong opinions on both sides of this issue. I made this decision after careful and lengthy consultation with our police department, the university administration and local authorities. I believe this path offered us the safest way forward for all involved with the least continuing disruption to our students, faculty and staff as they prepare for their final week of the semester.
Chancellor Robert J. Jones, UIUC
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