MINNEAPOLIS — It's been a chaotic 24 hours at the University of Minnesota (U of M), with demonstrations, arrests and overnight vandalism that left the exterior of Coffman Union covered in chalk and graffiti.
The events kicked off early Tuesday, when the group Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) says the "University of Minnesota Divest Coalition" set up the encampment at 4 a.m. in front of Walter Library to support the people of Gaza and Palestine, and to protest the U's investments in military manufacturers, many of which do business with Israel.
The demonstration followed similar demonstrations by students and faculty at New York University, Columbia and Yale to insist that the universities condemn Israel's assault on Gaza and divest from companies that sell weapons to Israel.
While the divest coalition - made up of multiple undergrad and grad student organizations - says U of M police began "harassing" demonstrators starting at 6:30 a.m., the university says officers responded after receiving reports that protestors had set up tents and created an encampment on the north end of Northrup Mall, a direct violation of U of M policy.
"UMPD arrived shortly after 6 a.m. and informed those present they were in violation of both University policy and state trespassing law," read a statement shared by the U. "Tents are not allowed on any University property for any purpose without a permit. In addition, Public Safety has not allowed any encampments, tents, fires, or other types of encampment living arrangements on any University properties or in buildings. The group was asked to disperse by 7 a.m. and told they would be arrested if they chose to stay past that time. Some of those present chose to disperse and continue peacefully protesting, but nine chose to remain and were arrested without incident."
The statement said the U of M "supports and respects" free speech through lawful protest, noting its status as a public research institution where groups regularly express "diverse views and opinions."
Following the arrest of demonstrators Tuesday, WAMM is demanding that those taken into custody be immediately released and all potential charges dropped.
A few hours later, hundreds returned to Northrop Mall to take part in a large demonstration opposing the war in Gaza and the U of M doing business with Israel. That protest was peaceful, and when night fell the encampment set up before sunrise Tuesday was dispersed.
Things weren't quite finished, however. Vandals returned overnight with spray paint and chalk to cover walls and surfaces outside Coffman Union with anti-war graffiti.
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