Several dozen University of Minnesota students staged a die-in and more than 150 gathered for a rally Wednesday at Memorial Coffman Union, calling for the university to divest from organizations they say support Israel.
The move comes after nine people, including several students, were arrested by University of Minnesota police Tuesday for setting up an encampment on campus supporting Palestine.
Gina-Isabella Zedan, a sophomore of Egyptian descent, joined Wednesday’s rally after feeling inspired by the large number of demonstrators who turned out Tuesday after the police action.
“I just wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “It’s really beautiful to see all these people come in support, even people who aren’t Muslim.”
Protesters staged a die-in around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday on the first floor of Coffman by lying on the ground to symbolize those killed in Gaza. The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, according to health officials in the area. The conflict began last October when Hamas attacked Israel from the Gaza Strip.
Students filled the hallways as around 30 protestors sprawled across the floor. “UMN, stop your hiding!” the protesters chanted. “While you’re silent, children are dying!”
The chants intensified as a speaker urged the crowd to be louder: “They need to hear you. We need to disrupt!”
Nicole Moberg, a student who participated in the die-in, emphasized that the Palestinian plight is a matter of human rights rather than politics.
“It’s not an anti-Semitic issue; it’s a human rights issue,” she said.
Students later rallied outside Coffman, chanting, “Protesting is not a crime!” and “UMN, you can’t hide! We charge you with genocide!” Some passersby paused to take in the scene, others hurried past the sea of signs that read, “Divest from Genocide” and “Hands off our protest, pigs.”
Merlin Van Alstine, a member of Students for Democratic Society, warned those who planned to resurrect an encampment on campus.
“This is an arrestable action as we’ve seen,” Alstine said, referring to Tuesday’s incident. “If and when the police come and give a dispersal order, please leave, and if you’re able to, help pack up.”
Tuesday’s encampment and Wednesday’s events were organized by the student groups Students for Justice in Palestine and Students for a Democratic Society , among others, mirroring similar action at universities across the country like Columbia University, Yale University, and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.
University of Minnesota students said they continued demonstrating Wednesday because they felt unheard by university leadership.
“Our demands aren’t being met,” said Iman Khemakhem, a member of Students for a Democratic Society. “We were forced to take this action.”
Nine people were arrested at the university Tuesday after demonstrators set up tents on Northrop Mall about 4 a.m. to show solidarity with Gaza and Palestine.
University spokesman Jake Ricker said in a statement that university police arrived at Northrop Mall shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday, and told protestors that they were violating a university policy and state trespassing law. Police told demonstrators they would be arrested if they didn’t disperse by 7 a.m.
The university’s policy says rallies, demonstrations and gatherings of less than 100 people are allowed on Northrop Mall without a permit. But a permit is required if tents are displayed outside.
“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,” Ricker said.
Tents and supplies were confiscated. Some participants dispersed, but nine remained and were arrested. Ricker said he believes that seven of the demonstrators arrested were students, one was a university employee, and that one had no known affiliation with the school.
The people arrested Tuesday were issued civil trespass warnings; students and the university employee will have their warnings “set aside” so they can work and attend classes on campus, Ricker said.
“So many vehicles and cops started circulating the entire campus. We were like, OK, we need to pack up all of these things and we need to disperse immediately,” said Khemakhem, who participated in Tuesday’s demonstration. “This is not something that we’re prepared for. This action was so militarized where we realized it’s just not safe to be on campus right now.”
Over 300 students staged a walkout Tuesday afternoon following the arrests. Hundreds of people protested that evening outside of Coffman Memorial Union, and another encampment was set up later that day.
U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., attended the Tuesday evening protest to support demonstrators.
“I am incredibly moved by your courage and bravery as a student body in putting your bodies on the line to stand in solidarity to end the genocide that is taking place in Gaza at this moment,” Omar said to protestors.
University police approached the encampment around 11 p.m. Tuesday, and told demonstrators to disperse. All participants removed structures and tents, and left the area. No arrests were made.
“The police presence is very unprecedented, and their excessive use of force is blatant discrimination,” said Adam Abu, outreach manager for Students for Justice in Palestine.
He said his group’s main demand is for the university to divest from companies like Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, and General Dynamics, which the group believes profit from the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“We’ll continue camping out until we hear something from the president, and until they say yes on the divestment,” said Maya Hamid, a member of Students for Justice in Palestine.
The actions supporting Palestine come as some students celebrate the Jewish holiday, Passover, which began at sundown Monday. The student group, Minnesota Hillel, released a statement expressing concern about rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“The eliminationist rhetoric being spewed on campuses since then has been toxic, and sometimes unsafe,” said an Instagram post by Minnesota Hillel. “The messages around campus, in the classroom, and on social media have marginalized, demonized, and eliminated the majority of Jewish voices, and isolated and targeted Jewish students.”
Sami Rahamim, a spokesman for the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, said protesters at the University of Minnesota and across the country are using language that is pro-terrorism, which many Jewish people find disturbing.
“It’s not safe to be visibly Jewish in many places on campus,” Rahamim said. “That should not be where we’re at in 2024.”
Rahamim said he’s concerned that upcoming graduation ceremonies could be jeopardized if protests continue. There have been no indications that students or others plan to demonstrate at local graduation ceremonies.
Ricker said the university has experience managing demonstrations at events, and has plans in place to address them.
“While the University supports free speech, ensuring these students can be properly celebrated for their achievements and that they and their families have a safe and accessible experience is our top priority,” said Ricker’s written statement.
