Pro-Palestinian activists began an ongoing encampment at Penn’s College Green on Thursday amid dozens of colleges across the country demonstrating against Israel’s war in Gaza.

Over the past five days, The Daily Pennsylvanian has documented encampment programming, administrative updates, and counterprotesting on College Green. As the Gaza Solidarity Encampment passes its 100th hour, here are the pivotal moments from the DP’s live coverage, in photos.

Hour 1, Thursday, 4:30 p.m.: Encampment at Penn begins

Protesters arrived on College Green at 4 p.m. on Thursday, joining a faculty walkout in protest of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. Soon, protesters began setting up tarps, creating a barrier as they pitched the tents they would then occupy indefinitely.

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Hour 5, Thursday, 8:32 p.m.: Night one at encampment

As night fell upon the camp, organizers and volunteers brought in additional supplies, which included first aid kits, cases of water, boxes of pizza, and other necessities. Speakers informed protesters on site about “know your rights” protocols in case of potential arrest.

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Hour 21, Friday, 12:46 p.m.: Poems for Peace and more art

An individual set up a “Poems for Peace” booth on Locust Walk in front of the encampment. Later joined by another poet, the two typed free poems for passersby and encampment participants. Encampment organizers also led an art build later in the day and established a "Refaat Alareer Memorial Library" from which participants could read. 

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Hour 23, Friday, 2:21 p.m.: Graffiti on the Ben Franklin statue

An unidentified protester spray painted the words “Zios get fuckt” on the Ben Franklin statue outside College Hall. The act of vandalism was quickly covered by organizers with the encampment before Penn Police ordered protesters to remove all signage from the statue and pedestal. A few hours later, the statue was scrubbed and power-washed. Interim Penn President Larry Jameson latter condemned the vandalism as antisemitic in a statement.

Hour 27, Friday, 7:01 p.m.: Speaker programming at the encampment

Throughout the day, pro-Palestinian demonstrators spoke with members of the encampment about the geopolitical history between Israel and Palestine and the importance of organizing, among other topics surrounding the war in Gaza. Speakers included Fred Hampton Jr. of the Black Panther Party Cubs, former member of the MOVE movement Pam Africa, Pennsylvania state Rep. Rick Krajewski, New York state Sen. Jabari Brisport, and many more. Meanwhile, Chabad Rabbi Levi Haskelevich attempted to enter the encampment with students several times, but protesters physically blocked him from doing so.

Hour 31, Friday, 11:07 p.m.: Counterprotesters project Oct. 7 footage

Counterprotesters gathered in front of the encampment with Israeli flags. Penn Police set up barricades along Locust Walk to separate the two groups. In the following hour, the counterprotesters worked to set up projector equipment, briefly disbanded, then returned to play video footage from the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. 

Hour 41, Saturday, 9:51 a.m.: Coffee run 

As encampment participants began to wake up, around 10 people joined them with supplies and coffee. Protesters do schoolwork, talk, and make signs as others invite those on Locust Walk to grab free coffee. 

Hour 51, Saturday, 7:48 p.m.: Nightly programming and quiet time

Nightly programming was typically quiet as campers engaged in calm discussions within the encampment. Other times, protesters would engage in a few rounds of chants such as, “One solution, revolution!” or “Free, free Palestine!” Music also filled the atmosphere occasionally, ranging from contemporary hits to traditional sitar music.

 

Hour 53, Saturday, 9:19 p.m.: Jameson and Jackson discuss with protesters

Encampment organizers met with Interim Penn President Larry Jameson and Provost John Jackson Jr. to discuss their three main goals — the disclosure of University investments, financial and academic divestment from Israel, and the defense of Palestinian students, beginning with the reinstatement of Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine. According to a statement from encampment organizers, Jameson and Jackson claimed "financial transparency is bad business sense” and told organizers that non-Penn affiliates at the encampment posed a “safety risk.” 

Hour 67, Sunday, 12 p.m.: Pro-Israel counterprotesters gather at Annenberg Plaza

Organized by Penn Hillel, counterprotesters gathered in front of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in response to the pro-Palestine demonstrators. Following a series of speakers and singing "Hatikvah," the Israeli national anthem, pro-Israel demonstrators marched towards College Green, clashing with the encampment. A Drexel University student was also briefly apprehended by the police for trying to enter the encampment.

Hour 71, Sunday, 4:06 p.m.: Seder event interrupted by pro-Israel instigator with knife

A “Seder in the Streets” event — cohosted by Jewish Voice for Peace Philadelphia, Rabbis for Ceasefire Philadelphia, Families for Ceasefire Philly, and Tikkun Olam Chavurah — was established next to the encampment Sunday afternoon to observe traditional Passover. Organizers recounted the story of Passover while also supporting the people of Gaza. Half an hour into the seder event, a pro-Israel supporter with a knife holster on his belt entered the green. The knives were confiscated and the man was escorted away from the seder, placed in handcuffs on Walnut Street between 34th and 35th streets, and given a citation.

Hour 72, Sunday, 5:48 p.m.: Fire chief checks encampment

Chief of Penn Fire Department Eugene Janda conducted a sweep of the encampment in search of “fire hazards.” According to encampment organizers, Janda found the setup unsafe due to the tents’ close proximity and requested organizers create a clear pathway for individuals to exit. In response, organizers moved a barricade near College Hall to create an exit path.  

Hour 78, Sunday, 11:30 p.m.: Town hall in encampment commences, Split Button graffiti

Nightly chants continued, including the controversial “Al Qassam, make us proud, take another soldier down” chant. At 11:30 p.m., demonstrators held a town hall, informing other campers that the administration has not responded to their requests, with an organizer commenting that “we have got them scared.” The Split Button in front of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library was also vandalized with marker around this hour, and officers from the Division of Public Safety attempted to remove the vandalism. 

Hour 89, Monday, 9:30 a.m.: Workers power washing chalk

Workers power washed the chalk illustrations off the ground in front of the Ben Franklin statue as students prepared to head to morning classes. Earlier in the morning, official notices of trespassing were posted along the barricades, citing the encampment as a violation of Philadelphia city codes. As the power washing went on, multiple administrators — who had gathered hours prior — remained near the Split Button. 

Hour 97, Monday, 5:17 p.m.: Christian Zionist draws the attention of onlookers

A self-identified “Christian Zionist” arrived at the encampment holding a large Israeli flag with the words “Pray for Israel,” yelling anti-Hamas rhetoric and engaging in a speech toward the demonstrators. Sonya Gwak, a University Open Expression observer, intervened and asked the counterprotester to move behind the barricades on the opposite side of Locust Walk, citing a violation of “rules of engagement.” The individual refused to move and over the next two hours, the counterprotester continued to engage with and be confronted by passersby and encampment participants. Office of Student Affairs Executive Director Katie Bonner briefly confronted the counterprotester before he crossed to the other side of Locust Walk to the applause of the encampment participants.

 

Hour 100, Monday, 8:30 p.m.: Fate uncertain for encampment

As the encampment enters its fifth night, it remains uncertain whether or not Penn Police will make arrests of demonstrators in the immediate future. Usual end-of-year activities, such as the sophomore event U-Night, were relocated, diverging from tradition. While similar encampments at other universities met different fates, the encampment at Penn continues past its 100th hour on College Green, still erected next to the historic Ben Franklin statue.