Pro-Palestine protesters at Library Mall, organized by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Young Democratic Socialists of America, re-pitched their tents after police removed all but two tents Wednesday morning.
More than 12 hours after police removed all but two of their tents and 72 hours after the encampment began on Monday morning, the tents remained up through Wednesday night.
Yesterday, 34 protesters were arrested, and four were put in the Dane County Jail, according to UWPD.
Tents have remained up overnight despite violating the Wisconsin Administrative Code’s ban on camping on university lands without authorization from a university’s chancellor. UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin said she authorized the clearing of the encampment Wednesday in a statement to the campus community yesterday.
Mnookin declined a meeting yesterday but agreed to meet today, according to a protest speaker.
A group of about 60 counter-protesters with Israeli flags played loud music and danced in response to the protest last night. UW-Hillel released a statement condemning the encampment, saying it “has fostered heightened fear, insecurity, and harassment of Jewish students” on campus.
The Associated Students of Madison (ASM) released a statement defending protesters in the encampment and condemning UW administration's decision to remove the encampment.
SJP released their demands on Instagram and to campus administration, which included disclosing all University of Wisconsin Foundation investments, cutting ties with all Israeli organizations and removing police from campus.
Read coverage of the encampment from Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
[8:30 p.m. CDT] Goodnight from Cardinal
By Noe Goldhaber
After students from Madison area high schools and pro-Palestinian organizations joined the encampment this afternoon, things quieted down. This evening, protesters and community members shared a meal from the People's Kitchen Part 2.
There are at least 30 tents up, and two percussionists are performing live music.
The live blog is paused until tomorrow morning when protesters are expected to meet with Mnookin.
[11 a.m. CDT] There will be no police action until protesters meet with Mnookin again, organizers say
By Annika Bereny and Mary Bosch
Organizers announced there will be no further police action until their next meeting with Mnookin.
“The atmosphere was frank, people were really frank with each other. It was clear people were speaking from the heart,” professor Samer Alatout told the Cardinal. “We are building a new kind of execution that depends on collaboration, talking rather than the threat of violence.”
“That provided us 24 hours of safety,” he added.
The meeting will be scheduled in the next 24 hours, organizers said.
[10:25 a.m. CDT]
By Mary Bosch
High school pro-Palestine protesters from Madison West High School are walking down Regent Street toward the state Capitol.
Additionally, pro-Palestine protesters from Madison East High School are planning to march across East Washington Street and will meet the West High students near the Capitol, according to an organizer at the encampment.
It has begun to rain heavily.
[10:11 a.m. CDT] Biden addresses nationwide campus protests
By Gabriella Hartlaub
President Joe Biden made an unscheduled set of remarks about the ongoing nationwide campus protests from the White House. Biden decried “violent protests” and said they are not protected by law.
“Make no mistake, as president, I will always defend free speech and uphold the rule of law,” Biden said.
“We are not an authoritarian nation,” he said. “We are a civil society, and order must prevail.”
He also said there is “no place” for racism or antisemitism in America, and that it is unfair and illegal for protests to disrupt graduation and classes. Students have “the right to protest, not the right to cause chaos,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the College Democrats of America said in a statement on Twitter that “we reserve the right to criticize our party when it fails to listen to us.”
“College Democrats’ votes are not to be taken for granted by the Democratic Party,” the statement read.
[10:05 a.m CDT]
By Mary Bosch
A black truck displaying the message “Congress spent billions on bombs that will be dropped on hospitals, schools, and refugee camps,” is parked by the encampment on Langdon Street.
The truck has no identification, and there is no one in the driver’s seat.
[9:57 a.m. CDT] Protesters smile after meeting with Mnookin
By Tomer Ronen
A group of pro-Palestine protesters and faculty, including professor Samer Alatout, exited Bascom Hall following negotiations with Mnookin.
Protesters left the building smiling. One faculty member said the meeting “went well.”
There will be an update provided at 11 a.m., according to a protester.
[9:27 a.m. CDT]
By Anna Kleiber
A group of six protesters are preparing for rain by building a DIY canopy out of plastic sheets, duct tape and orange snow stakes.
[8:45 a.m. CDT]
By Annika Bereny
Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is currently meeting with student protesters to discuss their demands, an organizer said at the encampment.
A group of faculty are rallying on Bascom Hill to support the students.
“Let’s make sure they hear us,” the organizer said as chants of “disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest” start up.
[5:30 a.m. CDT]
By Tomer Ronen
Good morning and welcome to the fourth day of UW-Madison’s Liberated Zone. Once again, the night has brought no new changes, and the Palestinian flag still flies over the camp.
A total of 28 tents are now spread across a portion of Library Mall, 26 more than after the police removed all but two yesterday.
Anna Kleiber is the state news editor for The Daily Cardinal. Follow her on Twitter at @annakleiber03.
Annika Bereny is the Special Pages Editor for the Daily Cardinal and specializes in campus reporting. Follow her on Twitter at @annikabereny.
Mary Bosch is the Photo Editor for The Daily Cardinal and a first year Journalism student. She has also written campus, state and city news. Follow her on twitter: @Mary_Bosch6
Noe Goldhaber is the college news editor and former copy chief for the Daily Cardinal. She is a statistics major and has reported on a wide range of campus issues. Follow her on Twitter at @noegoldhaber.
Tomer Ronen is the Features Editor for the Daily Cardinal. Follow him on Twitter at @TRonen22.
