by After nine people, eight University of Minnesota students and one employee, were arrested on Tuesday, hundreds of people gathered in front of Coffman Memorial Union to support them.
The arrested people had set up an encampment on Northrop Auditorium’s lawn early Tuesday morning. The University of Minnesota requires a permit in order to set up tents on campus grounds. These people did not have a permit and were arrested for trespassing.
In response, Divest UMN, an organization at the University that demands divestment from entities that support Israel, hosted a protest that brought together students and community members. At the protest, people expressed outrage towards the University and police.
Jack Vogel, University student, said he was frustrated with how the University handled the situation and the lack of support they have given protesters.
“When we give unconditional support to the Palestinian people, what we’re given is arrest,” Vogel said.
Divest UMN said in a social media post on Tuesday, the students were not going to leave the encampment until the University of Minnesota met all of their demands including to divest from certain companies, to ban businesses from recruiting on campus and to be transparent about their spending.
At the protest, these demands were emphasized. Protesters led chants calling for a ceasefire.
“We’re here to protest to show solidarity for the people who were arrested, but unfortunately that is not enough,” Vogel said. “If you just protest, if you just show up, that is not going to end the genocide in Gaza.”
Olyvia Thomas, a protester and Minneapolis resident, said she is heartbroken by the situation in Gaza and wants the University of Minnesota to disassociate themselves from Israel.
“Divest, do everything you can to get your money out of war and harm,” Thomas said.
Thomas also said she wanted to tell the students that she was proud of them.
“It’s really brave of those students, to risk everything and recognizing that it’s not risking everything it’s risking a very small amount compared to what people in Palestine are risking every day,” Thomas said.
The students and employee were released from jail Tuesday afternoon.
