2024 University of Virginia pro-Palestinian campus occupation: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox civil conflict |
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| ⚫ | |||
| place = [[University of Virginia]], [[Charlottesville, Virginia]], United States |
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| coordinates = {{Coord|38|02|12|N|78|30|16|W|region:US_type:edu|display=inline, title}} |
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| title = 2024 University of Virginia pro-Palestinian campus occupation |
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| partof = the [[2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses]] |
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| image = |
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| caption = |
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| date = May 1-4, 2024<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days |year=2024 |month1=5 |day1=1 |year2=2024 |month2=5 |day2=4}}) |
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| side1 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Palestine.svg}}'''Pro-Palestinian groups:''' |
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*UVA Dissenters<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024"/> |
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*UVA Apartheid Divest Coalition<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024"/> |
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*UVA Encampment for Gaza<ref name="Higgins 3 May 2024"/> |
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| side2 = '''Local authorities:''' |
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* [[University of Virginia]] |
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* [[Virginia State Police]] |
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<hr> |
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{{flagicon image|Flag of Israel.svg}}'''Pro-Israel counterprotesters:''' |
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* |
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| causes = solidarity with other [[2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses]]<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024"/> |
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| methods = {{flatlist| |
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*[[Protest]]s |
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*[[Occupation protest|Occupation]] |
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*[[Civil disobedience]] |
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}} |
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| goals = [[disinvestment from Israel]]<ref name="Higgins 3 May 2024"/> |
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| status = |
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| result = '''Protesters suppressed''' |
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| arrests = 25 protesters arrested<ref name="Cochrane 2024"/> |
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| leadfigures1 = |
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| leadfigures2 = |
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| injuries = [[pepper spray]] to protesters<ref name="Cochrane 2024"/> |
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}} |
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| ⚫ | The '''2024 University of Virginia pro-Palestinian campus occupation''' was the instance of the [[2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses]] at the [[University of Virginia]]. The protestors organized an [[Occupation (protest)|occupation]] on university grounds in support of [[Palestinian nationalism]] in the context of the [[Israel–Hamas war]]. |
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Students organized various protest activities at the University of Virginia from the start of the Israel-Hamas waf.<ref name="Dunn 2023"/><ref name="Baxter 2024"/> In April 2024 in the global media beyond Charlottesville, [[Donald Trump]] made comparisons of pro-Palestinian protestors at universities nationwide to the hostile aggressors at the 2017 Charlottesville [[Unite the Right rally]].<ref name="Cameron 2024"/> On May 1 students established a protest encampment at the university.<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024"/> On May 4, police ended the protest by pepper spraying demonstrators and arresting 25 of them.<ref name="Cochrane 2024"/> |
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The protestors organized an [[Occupation (protest)|occupation]] on university grounds in support of [[Palestinian nationalism]] in the context of the [[Israel–Hamas war]]. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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[[University of Virginia]] is a school in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]]. |
[[University of Virginia]] is a school in [[Charlottesville, Virginia]]. |
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At the time of the pro-Palestinian protests, there was still a strong community memory of the 2017 [[White supremacy]]-themed [[Unite the Right rally]].<ref name="Manto 1 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Manto |first1=Margaret |title=They lived through the 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville — and say comparisons to pro-Palestinian campus protests are unfair |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/they-lived-through-the-2017-white-supremacist-rallies-in-charlottesville-and-say-comparisons-to-pro-palestinian-campus-protests-are-unfair/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=1 May 2024}}</ref> More generally, former president [[Donald Trump]] had been comparing pro-Palestinian protestors at universities nationwide to the hostile aggressors at the Unite the Right rally.<ref name="Cameron 2024">{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Chris |title=Trump Again Compares Violent White Supremacist March in Charlottesville to Campus Protests |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/us/politics/trump-charlottesville-campus-protests.html |work=The New York Times |date=25 April 2024}}</ref> A commentator for ''[[The New Republic]]'' described the comparison of pro-Palestinian protesters with Charlottesville [[Neo-Nazis]] as despicable and slander. |
At the time of the pro-Palestinian protests, there was still a strong community memory of the 2017 [[White supremacy]]-themed [[Unite the Right rally]].<ref name="Manto 1 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Manto |first1=Margaret |title=They lived through the 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville — and say comparisons to pro-Palestinian campus protests are unfair |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/they-lived-through-the-2017-white-supremacist-rallies-in-charlottesville-and-say-comparisons-to-pro-palestinian-campus-protests-are-unfair/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=1 May 2024}}</ref> More generally, former president [[Donald Trump]] had been comparing pro-Palestinian protestors at universities nationwide to the hostile aggressors at the Unite the Right rally.<ref name="Cameron 2024">{{cite news |last1=Cameron |first1=Chris |title=Trump Again Compares Violent White Supremacist March in Charlottesville to Campus Protests |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/24/us/politics/trump-charlottesville-campus-protests.html |work=The New York Times |date=25 April 2024}}</ref> A commentator for ''[[The New Republic]]'' described the comparison of pro-Palestinian protesters with Charlottesville [[Neo-Nazis]] as despicable and slander.<ref name="Heydari 2024">{{cite news |last1=Heydari |first1=Aubtin |title=The Grotesque Slander of Comparing Gaza Protesters to Neo-Nazis |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/180989/charlottesville-comparison-gaza-student-protest |work=[[The New Republic]] |date=25 April 2024}}</ref> |
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Following the October 7 [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]], protests in support of Palestine included a student group publishing an October 11 statement of support for a Free Palestine.<ref name="Dunn 2023">{{cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Hailey |title=UVA student group receives backlash for supporting Free Palestine movement 'by whatever means necessary' |url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/nation-world/israel-hamas-conflict/virginia-leaders-uva-student-group-statement-supporting-palestinian-resistance-israel/291-c197346c-a43c-4e26-8e89-3ff9ad6a1462 |work=13newsnow.com |date=11 October 2023}}</ref> On April 19 students organized a [[die-in]] on [[The Lawn]].<ref name="Baxter 2024">{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Thomas |title=Students for Justice in Palestine criticizes University at “die-in” on Lawn |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/04/students-for-justice-in-palestine-criticizes-university-at-die-in-on-lawn |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=April 19, 2024}}</ref> |
Following the October 7 [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel]], protests in support of Palestine included a student group publishing an October 11 statement of support for a Free Palestine.<ref name="Dunn 2023">{{cite news |last1=Dunn |first1=Hailey |title=UVA student group receives backlash for supporting Free Palestine movement 'by whatever means necessary' |url=https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/nation-world/israel-hamas-conflict/virginia-leaders-uva-student-group-statement-supporting-palestinian-resistance-israel/291-c197346c-a43c-4e26-8e89-3ff9ad6a1462 |work=13newsnow.com |date=11 October 2023}}</ref> On April 19 students organized a [[die-in]] on [[The Lawn]].<ref name="Baxter 2024">{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Thomas |title=Students for Justice in Palestine criticizes University at “die-in” on Lawn |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/04/students-for-justice-in-palestine-criticizes-university-at-die-in-on-lawn |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=April 19, 2024}}</ref> |
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Previous pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the community included a 2021 Palestinian solidarity March.<ref name="Kropf 2021">{{cite news |last1=Kropf |first1=Mike |title=Photos: Palestinian solidarity march at UVA |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/photos-palestinian-solidarity-march-at-uva/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=24 May 2021}}</ref> |
Previous pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the community included a 2021 Palestinian solidarity March.<ref name="Kropf 2021">{{cite news |last1=Kropf |first1=Mike |title=Photos: Palestinian solidarity march at UVA |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/photos-palestinian-solidarity-march-at-uva/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=24 May 2021}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | On 4 May, the [[Fralin Museum of Art]] announced that it received the first major donation of a [[Jewish ceremonial art]] collection.<ref name="Watson 4 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Denise |title=Norfolk philanthropist gives UVA its first major gift of Judaica: A collection of more than 150 Torah pointers |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/05/04/norfolk-philanthropist-gives-uva-its-first-major-gift-of-judaica-a-collection-of-more-than-150-torah-pointers/ |work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |date=4 May 2024}}</ref> The collection of [[Yad]]s, including one by artisan [[Wendell Castle]], is intended to enhance the appreciation of Judaica.<ref name="Watson 4 May 2024"/> |
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==Demonstration== |
==Demonstration== |
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On Tuesday, April 30, student groups decided to convene a demonstration for Palestine starting the following day, Wednesday, May 1.<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024">{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Jessie |title=UVA student groups will demonstrate Wednesday, as pro-Palestine protests are broken up on other Virginia campuses • Charlottesville Tomorrow |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/newsletter/uva-student-groups-will-demonstrate-wednesday-as-pro-palestine-protests-are-broken-up-on-other-virginia-campuses/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=30 April 2024}}</ref> The decision to act was in part due to student reports of violent ends to similar demonstrations at the nearby [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] and [[Virginia Tech]].<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024"/> |
On Tuesday, April 30, student groups decided to convene a demonstration for Palestine starting the following day, Wednesday, May 1.<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024">{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Jessie |title=UVA student groups will demonstrate Wednesday, as pro-Palestine protests are broken up on other Virginia campuses • Charlottesville Tomorrow |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/newsletter/uva-student-groups-will-demonstrate-wednesday-as-pro-palestine-protests-are-broken-up-on-other-virginia-campuses/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=30 April 2024}}</ref> The decision to act was in part due to student reports of violent ends to similar demonstrations at the nearby [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] and [[Virginia Tech]].<ref name="Higgins 30 April 2024"/> At the establishment of the protest, opponents compared the pro-Palestinian demonstrators to the white supremacists who organized the [[Unite the Right rally]].<ref name="Manto 1 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Manto |first1=Margaret |title=They lived through the 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville — and say comparisons to pro-Palestinian campus protests are unfair |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/they-lived-through-the-2017-white-supremacist-rallies-in-charlottesville-and-say-comparisons-to-pro-palestinian-campus-protests-are-unfair/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=1 May 2024}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The encampment was near the University Chapel.<ref name="CD News Staff 2 May 2024">{{cite news |author1=CD News Staff |title=Pro-Palestinian protesters form encampment near University Chapel |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/pro-palestinian-protesters-form-encampment-near-university-chapel |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=2 May 2024}}</ref> |
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By the third day the occupation was robust and seemed prepared to continue indefinitely.<ref name="Manto 3 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Manto |first1=Margaret |title=A dayslong pro-Palestine protest on UVA Grounds shows no sign of stopping |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/a-dayslong-pro-palestine-protest-on-uva-grounds-shows-no-sign-of-stopping/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=3 May 2024}}</ref> In response to student demonstrations, University of Virginia professors organized a scholarly dialogue about the war.<ref name="Stadler 3 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Stadler |first1=Lexie |title=Professors speak about leading productive dialogue on Israel-Hamas war |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/professors-speak-about-leading-productive-dialogue-on-israel-hamas-war |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=3 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Manto 1 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Manto |first1=Margaret |title=They lived through the 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville — and say comparisons to pro-Palestinian campus protests are unfair |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/they-lived-through-the-2017-white-supremacist-rallies-in-charlottesville-and-say-comparisons-to-pro-palestinian-campus-protests-are-unfair/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=1 May 2024}}</ref> |
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On the fourth day the protestors announced their publication of a statement on an official [[Instagram]] account.<ref name="Higgins 3 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Jessie |title=Pro-Palestine protest at UVA enters fourth day|url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/newsletter/pro-palestine-protest-at-uva-enters-fourth-day/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=3 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=uvaencampmentforgaza |title=uvaencampmentforgaza |url=https://www.instagram.com/uvaencampmentforgaza |website=www.instagram.com |publisher=Instagram}}</ref> Their demands included that the university begin [[disinvestment from Israel]].<ref name="Higgins 3 May 2024"/> |
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On Saturday, May 4, police force ended the demonstration.<ref name="Cochrane 2024">{{cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Emily |last2=Hooper |first2=Ryan Patrick |last3=Williams |first3=Kevin |last4=Landers |first4=Jackson |title=Dozens Arrested at U.Va. as Other Protests Disrupt Graduations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/04/us/graduation-commencement-pro-palesitinian-protests.html |work=The New York Times |date=4 May 2024}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' described the University of Virginia arrests as among the most prominent in the nation.<ref name="Cochrane 2024"/> Police used [[pepper spray]] on the demonstrators then arrested 25 of them for [[Trespass to land|tresspassing]].<ref name="Cochrane 2024"/><ref name="Landers 5 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Landers |first1=Jackson |last2=Spencer |first2=Hawes |last3=Cochrane |first3=Emily |title=At UVA, police deploy chemical irritants and arrest at least 25 protesters |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/05/04/at-uva-police-deploy-chemical-irritants-and-arrest-at-least-25-protesters/ |work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |date=5 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="Casiano 4 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Casiano |first1=Louis |title=University of Virginia police arrest 25 anti-Israel protesters while trying to clear encampment |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/university-virginia-police-arrest-25-anti-israel-protesters-clear-encampment |work=Fox News |date=4 May 2024}}</ref><ref name="Armesto 4 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Armesto |first1=Jason |title=Police raid UVa encampment, arrest anti-war protesters |url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/police-raid-uva-encampment-arrest-anti-war-protesters/article_b869f354-0a54-11ef-9a35-bf020acf72c1.html |work=[[The Daily Progress]] |date=4 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Baxter 5 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Thomas |last2=Trainer |first2=Finn |title=Police forcefully clear encampment near University Chapel, detain protesters |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/police-forcefully-clear-encampment-near-university-chapel-detain-protesters |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=5 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Casiano 4 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Casiano |first1=Louis |title=University of Virginia police arrest 25 anti-Israel protesters while trying to clear encampment |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/university-virginia-police-arrest-25-anti-israel-protesters-clear-encampment |work=Fox News |date=4 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Manto 3 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Manto |first1=Margaret |title=A dayslong pro-Palestine protest on UVA Grounds shows no sign of stopping |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/a-dayslong-pro-palestine-protest-on-uva-grounds-shows-no-sign-of-stopping/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=3 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Higgins 3 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Higgins |first1=Jessie |title=Pro-Palestine protest at UVA enters fourth day • Charlottesville Tomorrow |url=https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/newsletter/pro-palestine-protest-at-uva-enters-fourth-day/ |work=Charlottesville Tomorrow |date=3 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Cochrane 2024">{{cite news |last1=Cochrane |first1=Emily |last2=Hooper |first2=Ryan Patrick |last3=Williams |first3=Kevin |last4=Landers |first4=Jackson |title=Dozens Arrested at U.Va. as Other Protests Disrupt Graduations |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/04/us/graduation-commencement-pro-palesitinian-protests.html |work=The New York Times |date=4 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Armesto 4 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Armesto |first1=Jason |title=Police raid UVa encampment, arrest anti-war protesters |url=https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/police-raid-uva-encampment-arrest-anti-war-protesters/article_b869f354-0a54-11ef-9a35-bf020acf72c1.html |work=[[The Daily Progress]] |date=4 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Baxter 5 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Baxter |first1=Thomas |last2=Trainer |first2=Finn |title=Police forcefully clear encampment near University Chapel, detain protesters |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/police-forcefully-clear-encampment-near-university-chapel-detain-protesters |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=5 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Stadler 3 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Stadler |first1=Lexie |title=Professors speak about leading productive dialogue on Israel-Hamas war |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/professors-speak-about-leading-productive-dialogue-on-israel-hamas-war |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=3 May 2024}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | <ref name="CD News Staff 2 May 2024">{{cite news |author1=CD News Staff |title=Pro-Palestinian protesters form encampment near University Chapel |url=https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/pro-palestinian-protesters-form-encampment-near-university-chapel |work=The Cavalier Daily |date=2 May 2024}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Mather 4 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Mather |first1=Mike |title=Demonstration Ends After Protesters Refuse to Comply with University Policy |url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/demonstration-ends-after-protesters-refuse-comply-university-policy |work=news.virginia.edu |date=4 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref> |
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<ref name="Landers 5 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Landers |first1=Jackson |last2=Spencer |first2=Hawes |last3=Cochrane |first3=Emily |title=At UVA, police deploy chemical irritants and arrest at least 25 protesters |url=https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/05/04/at-uva-police-deploy-chemical-irritants-and-arrest-at-least-25-protesters/ |work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |date=5 May 2024}}</ref> |
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==Reactions== |
==Reactions== |
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The University of Virginia newspaper ''The Cavelier Daily'', nonprofit local newspaper ''Charlottesville Tomorrow'', and university official communications described protestors as "Pro-Palestinian";<ref name="CD News Staff 2 May 2024"/><ref name="Higgins 3 May 2024"/><ref name="Casiano 4 May 2024"/> local newspaper ''[[The Daily Progress]]'' described them as "anti-war";<ref name="Armesto 4 May 2024"/> and national news source [[Fox News]] described them as "anti-Israel";<ref name="Casiano 4 May 2024"/> |
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The University of Virginia and university president [[James E. Ryan (educator)|James E. Ryan]] issued official statements on May 4 that the demonstration was over because the protestors refused to comply with university policy and because of violent conduct.<ref name="Mather 4 May 2024">{{cite news |last1=Mather |first1=Mike |title=Demonstration Ends After Protesters Refuse to Comply with University Policy |url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/demonstration-ends-after-protesters-refuse-comply-university-policy |work=news.virginia.edu |date=4 May 2024 |language=en}}</ref> Ryan additionally made his own personal and official statement.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ryan |first1=James E |author1-link=James E. Ryan |title=A Message from President Ryan |url=https://news.virginia.edu/content/message-president-ryan |website=news.virginia.edu |language=en |date=4 May 2024}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | [[Fralin Museum of Art]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[https://www.instagram.com/uvaencampmentforgaza UVA Encampment For Gaza], social media account of encampment organizers |
*[https://www.instagram.com/uvaencampmentforgaza UVA Encampment For Gaza], social media account of encampment organizers |
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[[Category:2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses]] |
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[[Category:University of Virginia]] |
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[[Category:Charlottesville, Virginia]] |
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[[Category:May 2024 events in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Student protests in the United States]] |
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Revision as of 18:05, 5 May 2024
| 2024 University of Virginia pro-Palestinian campus occupation | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses | |||
| Date | May 1-4, 2024 (3 days) | ||
| Location | University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States 38°02′12″N 78°30′16″W / 38.03667°N 78.50444°W | ||
| Caused by | solidarity with other 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses[1] | ||
| Goals | disinvestment from Israel[2] | ||
| Methods | |||
| Resulted in | Protesters suppressed | ||
| Parties | |||
| Casualties | |||
| Injuries | pepper spray to protesters[3] | ||
| Arrested | 25 protesters arrested[3] | ||
The 2024 University of Virginia pro-Palestinian campus occupation was the instance of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses at the University of Virginia. The protestors organized an occupation on university grounds in support of Palestinian nationalism in the context of the Israel–Hamas war.
Students organized various protest activities at the University of Virginia from the start of the Israel-Hamas waf.[4][5] In April 2024 in the global media beyond Charlottesville, Donald Trump made comparisons of pro-Palestinian protestors at universities nationwide to the hostile aggressors at the 2017 Charlottesville Unite the Right rally.[6] On May 1 students established a protest encampment at the university.[1] On May 4, police ended the protest by pepper spraying demonstrators and arresting 25 of them.[3]
Background
University of Virginia is a school in Charlottesville, Virginia.
At the time of the pro-Palestinian protests, there was still a strong community memory of the 2017 White supremacy-themed Unite the Right rally.[7] More generally, former president Donald Trump had been comparing pro-Palestinian protestors at universities nationwide to the hostile aggressors at the Unite the Right rally.[6] A commentator for The New Republic described the comparison of pro-Palestinian protesters with Charlottesville Neo-Nazis as despicable and slander.[8]
Following the October 7 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, protests in support of Palestine included a student group publishing an October 11 statement of support for a Free Palestine.[4] On April 19 students organized a die-in on The Lawn.[5]
Previous pro-Palestinian demonstrations in the community included a 2021 Palestinian solidarity March.[9]
On 4 May, the Fralin Museum of Art announced that it received the first major donation of a Jewish ceremonial art collection.[10] The collection of Yads, including one by artisan Wendell Castle, is intended to enhance the appreciation of Judaica.[10]
Demonstration
On Tuesday, April 30, student groups decided to convene a demonstration for Palestine starting the following day, Wednesday, May 1.[1] The decision to act was in part due to student reports of violent ends to similar demonstrations at the nearby Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech.[1] At the establishment of the protest, opponents compared the pro-Palestinian demonstrators to the white supremacists who organized the Unite the Right rally.[7]
The encampment was near the University Chapel.[11]
By the third day the occupation was robust and seemed prepared to continue indefinitely.[12] In response to student demonstrations, University of Virginia professors organized a scholarly dialogue about the war.[13]
On the fourth day the protestors announced their publication of a statement on an official Instagram account.[2][14] Their demands included that the university begin disinvestment from Israel.[2]
On Saturday, May 4, police force ended the demonstration.[3] The New York Times described the University of Virginia arrests as among the most prominent in the nation.[3] Police used pepper spray on the demonstrators then arrested 25 of them for tresspassing.[3][15][16][17][18]
Reactions
The University of Virginia newspaper The Cavelier Daily, nonprofit local newspaper Charlottesville Tomorrow, and university official communications described protestors as "Pro-Palestinian";[11][2][16] local newspaper The Daily Progress described them as "anti-war";[17] and national news source Fox News described them as "anti-Israel";[16]
The University of Virginia and university president James E. Ryan issued official statements on May 4 that the demonstration was over because the protestors refused to comply with university policy and because of violent conduct.[19] Ryan additionally made his own personal and official statement.[20]
References
- ^ a b c d e f Higgins, Jessie (30 April 2024). "UVA student groups will demonstrate Wednesday, as pro-Palestine protests are broken up on other Virginia campuses • Charlottesville Tomorrow". Charlottesville Tomorrow.
- ^ a b c d e Higgins, Jessie (3 May 2024). "Pro-Palestine protest at UVA enters fourth day". Charlottesville Tomorrow.
- ^ a b c d e f Cochrane, Emily; Hooper, Ryan Patrick; Williams, Kevin; Landers, Jackson (4 May 2024). "Dozens Arrested at U.Va. as Other Protests Disrupt Graduations". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Dunn, Hailey (11 October 2023). "UVA student group receives backlash for supporting Free Palestine movement 'by whatever means necessary'". 13newsnow.com.
- ^ a b Baxter, Thomas (April 19, 2024). "Students for Justice in Palestine criticizes University at "die-in" on Lawn". The Cavalier Daily.
- ^ a b Cameron, Chris (25 April 2024). "Trump Again Compares Violent White Supremacist March in Charlottesville to Campus Protests". The New York Times.
- ^ a b Manto, Margaret (1 May 2024). "They lived through the 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville — and say comparisons to pro-Palestinian campus protests are unfair". Charlottesville Tomorrow.
- ^ Heydari, Aubtin (25 April 2024). "The Grotesque Slander of Comparing Gaza Protesters to Neo-Nazis". The New Republic.
- ^ Kropf, Mike (24 May 2021). "Photos: Palestinian solidarity march at UVA". Charlottesville Tomorrow.
- ^ a b Watson, Denise (4 May 2024). "Norfolk philanthropist gives UVA its first major gift of Judaica: A collection of more than 150 Torah pointers". The Virginian-Pilot.
- ^ a b CD News Staff (2 May 2024). "Pro-Palestinian protesters form encampment near University Chapel". The Cavalier Daily.
- ^ Manto, Margaret (3 May 2024). "A dayslong pro-Palestine protest on UVA Grounds shows no sign of stopping". Charlottesville Tomorrow.
- ^ Stadler, Lexie (3 May 2024). "Professors speak about leading productive dialogue on Israel-Hamas war". The Cavalier Daily.
- ^ uvaencampmentforgaza. "uvaencampmentforgaza". www.instagram.com. Instagram.
- ^ Landers, Jackson; Spencer, Hawes; Cochrane, Emily (5 May 2024). "At UVA, police deploy chemical irritants and arrest at least 25 protesters". The Virginian-Pilot.
- ^ a b c Casiano, Louis (4 May 2024). "University of Virginia police arrest 25 anti-Israel protesters while trying to clear encampment". Fox News.
- ^ a b Armesto, Jason (4 May 2024). "Police raid UVa encampment, arrest anti-war protesters". The Daily Progress.
- ^ Baxter, Thomas; Trainer, Finn (5 May 2024). "Police forcefully clear encampment near University Chapel, detain protesters". The Cavalier Daily.
- ^ Mather, Mike (4 May 2024). "Demonstration Ends After Protesters Refuse to Comply with University Policy". news.virginia.edu.
- ^ Ryan, James E (4 May 2024). "A Message from President Ryan". news.virginia.edu.
External links
- UVA Encampment For Gaza, social media account of encampment organizers