Police in Ann Arbor, Michigan, disbanded a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Michigan due to concerns for public safety. The action occurred after demonstrators placed fake body bags on the lawn of a school official. Approximately 50 people were cleared from the Diag, a historic site for campus protests, with at least four people arrested. Video footage showed police using an irritant to disperse the crowd. Following the dispersal, nearby buildings were closed, and students were turned away from studying at the undergraduate and graduate libraries.
The encampment at the University of Michigan was set up on April 22, just before the end of the school year and the commencement season. Protesters demanded that the school’s endowment stop investing in companies with ties to Israel, although the university reported having minimal direct investments in such companies. Campus officials cited safety concerns at the encampment, including overloaded power sources and open flames. President Santa Ono stated that organizers had failed to comply with safety directives following inspections by the fire marshal, leading to the decision to disband the encampment.
Tensions over the war in Israel and Palestine have sparked protests at campuses across the country, with demonstrators calling for universities to cut financial ties with Israel. The actions in Ann Arbor followed a crackdown on an encampment at Columbia University on April 18, which sparked demonstrations nationwide. Drexel University in Philadelphia faced a similar situation, with a threatened clearance of an encampment prompting virtual classes and a lockdown on campus. Drexel’s president stated that the encampment disrupted campus life and could not be allowed to remain in place.
Members of the Board of Regents at the University of Michigan expressed concerns over the protests, with one board member citing the encampment at his house as an example of the failure to address antisemitism. The issue of divesting from Israeli companies was deemed settled by the university, with officials stating that only a small percentage of the endowment was invested in funds that might include such companies. Despite the protests and disruptions, the university stood firm on its stance regarding investments. Students and protesters continued to press their demands for divesture, with tensions remaining high on campuses across the country.
The protests and encampments at universities reflect a broader movement to pressure institutions to divest from companies with ties to Israel. The demonstrations also highlight the ongoing conflicts and tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, which have spilled over onto college campuses. The actions taken by police and university officials to disband the encampments indicate a growing divide and unrest within the academic community regarding the issue of divestment and financial ties with Israel. As the protests continue and tensions escalate, colleges and universities are faced with challenges in addressing the demands of protesters while maintaining campus safety and operations.
