Penn Interim President Tells Pro-Palestinian Protesters to Disband Camp Immediately

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — Pro-Palestinian protesters on the University of Pennsylvania campus must disband immediately due to several violations, interim president J. Larry Jameson announced Friday night.

The group began meeting Thursday. The protest has since grown into an encampment near 34th and Walnut on Penn’s campus.

Jameson says the camp itself violates the university’s facilities policies, along with “credible” reports of harassing and intimidating behavior.

According to the university, a statue outside College Hall was also vandalized with anti-Semitic graffiti.

Jameson called it “reprehensible” and said it would be investigated as a hate crime.

Protesters have been informed to dissolve the camp immediately.

“Failure to disband the camp immediately and comply with Penn policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures that apply to students, faculty and staff,” Jameson said.

“To the Penn community,

At Penn, we pursue our academic mission guided by fundamental commitments to defend freedom of inquiry and open expression, while maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful university community.

Over the past 24 hours, we have closely followed the protest that evolved into a camp on College Green. We have vigilantly supported the rights of our community members to peacefully protest. Representatives from Open Expression, University Life and teaching leaders have engaged with some of the protesters, with limited access to the wider group.

Unfortunately, flagrant violations of University policies and credible reports of harassing and intimidating behavior require us to protect the safety of our University community.

The camp itself violates the University’s facilities policies. The harassing and intimidating comments and actions of some of the protesters, which were reported and documented by many in our community, violate Penn’s open speech guidelines and state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act . All members of our community deserve access to our facilities without fear of harassment or being subjected to discriminatory comments or threats.

The vandalism of the statue in front of College Hall with anti-Semitic graffiti was especially reprehensible and will be investigated as a hate crime.

As we have repeatedly emphasized, we will defend freedom of expression and the productive exchange of ideas, but we will not allow any actions that harass, threaten or intimidate others. We have also said that the safety of our community is paramount and we will fulfill our commitment.

I am deeply saddened and concerned that our many efforts to respectfully engage in discourse, support open expression, and create a hate-free and inclusive community for all have been ignored by those who choose to disrupt and intimidate.

We have notified protesters of their legal and political violations. “Failure to disband the camp immediately and comply with Penn policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures that apply to students, faculty and staff.”

*** THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE… PREVIOUS STORY BELOW ***

Pro-Palestinian protests have been popping up on campuses across the area connected to a national movement that has emerged in recent weeks.

Students from Penn, Drexel University, Temple University and other organizations that stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people participated in the meeting.

The “Gaza Solidarity” protest has turned into an encampment near 34th and Walnut on the Penn campus.

“These universities always encourage us, it’s part of academic integrity and authenticity that we sit here and think critically about what’s going on and that’s what we’re doing,” said Nada Abausi, a student organizer.

Earlier in the day, Temple students marched across campus waving Palestinian flags. At Swarthmore College in Delaware County, a tent city has been growing in front of the admissions office.

The groups demand peace in Gaza and for schools to disclose any financial ties to Israel.

They also want them to cut ties with any companies the group believes are profiting from the war between Israel and Hamas.

“We are here demanding divestment. Our institution must divest from any type of company or end any type of association with Israel,” said Ragad, who was part of the protest at Swarthmore College.

The group is also calling for amnesty to be granted to students protesting against suspension or arrest.

Swarthmore College officials sent Action News a statement about the protests that read in part: “We remain open and willing to explore more realistic ways to find common ground and bring this latest demonstration to a peaceful conclusion.”

Penn officials also told Action News that peaceful assembly is their top priority and that there will be consequences for violations of university policy and illegal actions.

Police could be seen near the Penn camp since the protest began Thursday.

However, it has not been peaceful on other campuses around the country.

More than 90 students were arrested without incident on the University of Southern California campus Wednesday night.

Locally, two graduate students at Princeton University in New Jersey were arrested and banned from campus after several dozen people gathered Thursday morning, according to school officials.

A small number of the group set up tents, which is a violation of university policy.

After the group was repeatedly warned to leave the area, authorities said two graduate students were arrested for trespassing.

Protesters later voluntarily dismantled all tents, authorities said.

The two Princeton students now face disciplinary proceedings.

Penn professors who have joined the protests here say they hope the situation doesn’t get worse.

“Our fear as educators is that we hope that university administrators will not take those kinds of actions,” said Penn professor Dagmawi Woubshet.

However, Jewish students are counter-protesting and disagree with what they have heard at the demonstrations so far.

Pro-Israel students told Action News they are serving as a voice for Jewish people on the other side of this conflict.

“We let them protest their ideology and we will protest ours,” said Joseph Hochburg.

To combat concerns about anti-Semitism, the Swarthmore College group is partnering with Jewish Voice for Peace to hold a Seder on Sunday.

“We are planning to invite three universities, including Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr and Haverford, to come here and hold a community seder,” said Noe Caplan of Jewish Voice for Peace.

At this time, it is unclear whether pro-Palestinian supporters will stay at the Penn camp or march to other locations later. Action News has been told they plan to protest until the university meets their demands.