Politics
Cal Poly Humboldt Closes Campus For Remainder Of The Year After Protesters Occupy Building
Anti-Israel protesters on the Cal Poly Humboldt campus opened the doors of an occupied building to the outside for the first time in three days. The severity of the disturbance has led the school to close its campus and switch to remote learning for the remainder of the school year.
Cal Poly Humboldt is one of several dozen college campuses that has been “occupied” by anti-Israel protesters. The protests first gained national attention when students at Columbia University formed an encampment on the New York City campus. Similar encampments have since popped up in dozens of locations across the United States, including the University of Pennsylvania, George Washington, the University of Texas and several others.
Police have cracked down on a number of encampments, though several have remained active despite urges from university presidents to disband.
Students and staff from Temple, Drexel, and UPenn have launched an encampment at @Penn in solidarity with Palestinians. They’re demanding the universities divest from apartheid and cut ties with Israel.
We stand in unwavering solidarity with them and the people of Palestine. 🇵🇸 pic.twitter.com/uJjaSjbv2U
— Philly DSA 🌹 (@PhillyDSA) April 25, 2024
At George Washington University, a speaker tells the crowd that the intifada revolution is the only path forward to a socialist reconstruction of the United States of America.
This isn’t about Palestine, it’s about ending America.
— Jason Curtis Anderson (@JCAndersonNYC) April 27, 2024
Don’t Mess with Texas
Texas sends in armed State Troopers to The University of Texas amid protests.
Who thinks every university should send in armed police or State National Guard to handle these unruly protestors? 🙋♂️ pic.twitter.com/KnKp1WaoTN
— 👉M-Û-R-Č-H👈 (@TheEXECUTlONER_) April 26, 2024
At Cal Poly Humboldt, roughly 200 protesters gathered on the campus quad early Friday night shortly after Siemens Hall, the building that was seized by protesters last week, was opened for the first time in five days.
Students used tables and chairs to barricade entries and exits to the building, which they renamed “Intifada Hall.” Protesters also scribbled graffiti throughout the building and committed other acts of vandalism.
Demands from the students include transparency regarding the university’s investments, divestment from Israeli-linked companies, cutting ties with Israeli universities, dropping all charges against the protesters and calls for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
NEW: Cal Poly Humboldt campus *closes* through the end of the semester as students have seized multiple buildings on campus.
Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East have been barricaded and taken over by pro-Palestine protesters.
The buildings are completely trashed with graffiti… pic.twitter.com/rFobgUyIPk
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 27, 2024
In response to the disturbance, school administrators announced that the Humboldt campus will remain closed throughout the rest of the school year, which ends on May 10. Several additional schools, including Columbia University, have also switched to remote learning in response to the protests.
At USC, the university cancelled graduation ceremonies for its senior class.
Cal Poly Humboldt sidestepped the protester’s demands in a statement Thursday. Administrators stated that the school is not invested in any Israeli companies aside from small holdings as part of mutual funds. The university also refused to agree to dropped charges against protesters, instead stating that actions taken could result in expulsion and/or legal action.
Yoooooo. The longer video from cal poly students is extraordinary. These kids arent playing around!!! pic.twitter.com/zqFsuy35Xi
— Just one person (@Newyorkist) April 23, 2024
