University of Michigan President Santa Ono and university police have both issued statements regarding the recent incident. It has been revealed that there were approximately 50 protesters present during the sweep, despite reports earlier indicating a larger number of around 200 people just the previous evening.
The Pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Michigan Diag was cleared early Tuesday morning.
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Officers from the university’s Division of Public Safety and Security, dressed in riot gear, arrived on the scene as early as 5:45 a.m. on May 21. The student organization, Tahrir Coalition, which is leading the protests, reported this.
Protesters captured footage of officers using pepper spray as they forcefully directed the crowd away from the Diag and towards North University Avenue. According to posts on different social media platforms, the protesters had vacated the Diag by 6:31 a.m.
Be cautious of pedestrians when driving in the vicinity.
Read more: Police clear the Gaza encampment at University of Michigan.
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University President Santa Ono stated that the sweep took place on Tuesday, following the university fire marshal’s assessment that the protesters had created fire hazards. According to the fire marshal, these hazards posed a significant risk of a “catastrophic loss of life” in the event of a fire outbreak.
According to a statement by Ono, the fire marshal and Student Life leaders requested that the camp occupants remove external barriers, avoid overloading power sources, and cease using open flames. However, the protesters refused to comply with these requests. As a result, the university had no choice but to take action and dismantle the encampment this morning.
Ono mentioned that the encampment had consistently violated campus rules ever since the tents were set up on April 22nd. He further highlighted that the recent fire inspection was just one of many concerning incidents involving the protesters. These incidents included graffiti on the Michigan Union sign, assaultive behavior towards police officers, and the placement of fake corpses at the private residences of university regents.
According to Ono, individuals will continue to have the freedom to protest at the University of Michigan, as long as their protests do not infringe upon the rights of others and align with university policies aimed at maintaining the safety of the community. Ono emphasizes that violence and intimidation have no place at the University of Michigan and will not be accepted. Those who engage in such behavior will be held responsible.
According to Deputy Chief Melissa Overton, university police spokeswoman, the officers gave three warnings to the protesters to vacate the area within a span of 15 minutes. It was stated that individuals who failed to comply with the warnings would be subject to arrest. However, when requested, MLive/The Ann Arbor News did not receive any information regarding the number of arrests made.
Around 100 protesters are currently walking the streets of Ann Arbor, some of whom are still standing on North University. They are engaged in interactions with officers who are blocking entry to the Diag. Additionally, there is a gathering taking place at Liberty Plaza.
Protesters have been occupying a tented encampment on Central Campus for four weeks, advocating for the Palestinian cause and expressing their opposition to Israel. Although the police have refrained from making any arrests at the encampment until now, a non-student was apprehended during a protest organized by the same group on Friday, May 3, outside the university’s Museum of Art.
Four individuals who participated in a sit-in at the office of university President Santa Ono on November 17 have been charged in Washtenaw County for engaging in assaultive behavior towards law enforcement officers.
The lack of arrests during the set-up of tents for Gaza at three Michigan universities suggests a “hands-off” approach.
The Tahrir Coalition has been actively protesting on the Ann Arbor campus, calling for divestment from Israel ever since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7. According to the Associated Press, on that day, more than 1,200 mostly civilian Israelis were killed by Hamas.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 34,500 people. However, it is important to note that this figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, as reported by the Associated Press. In a recent report released by the United Nations on May 14, it was stated that the number of women and children who lost their lives is actually lower than what was initially reported.
Just two days before his scheduled testimony to Congress on Gaza encampments at U.S. universities, the police conducted a sweep of the encampment. Ono had planned to submit a transcribed interview to the U.S. House committee.
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