Sprinklers no longer a risk, according to organizers

Organizers announced around 11:40 p.m that the risk of sprinklers going off has subsided for the night, eliciting cheers from the crowd.

As some begin to sleep, others continue to work on their laptops. Towards the center of the encampment, a table remains stocked with food and water.

Protestors prepare for sprinkler possibility

An organizer said there is a possibility the College Green sprinklers will turn on at 11 or 11:30 p.m. They told participants to put any valuables in a designated spot where they won’t get wet.

The organizer also issued another reminder to keep drugs and alcohol out of the camp, and told any protestors interested in staying overnight with their own camping gear to complete the onboarding process.

As temperatures drop, quiet hours begin in encampment

As night falls — and quiet hours began at the encampment at 11 p.m. — temperatures are dropping on campus. The weather forecast indicates a low temperature of 40 degrees fahrenheit.

In an Instagram post this afternoon, Philly Palestine Coalition asked for people to bring hand warmers to the encampment if they are able to along with food, water, and sleeping supplies.

Onsite medics handed out KN95 masks to protestors and onlookers around the encampment. A volunteer told The Daily Pennsylvanian a “surplus” of masks were sourced from “the Department of Health.”

Additional medical supplies will be available at a medical tent located next to College Green. Space emergency blankets, hand warmers, extra pillows, and bottled water, in addition to first aid supplies were crowd-sourced, and will stay stocked through the demonstration.

Pennsylvania state politicians speak with the DP

Pennsylvania state Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) and state Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia) were at the encampment to support students and said that they were “here to listen.”

“What I’ve heard is it [the encampment] stems from peace and students wanting peace, and just also to make sure that they’re able to peacefully protest,” Khan said.

Both Saval and Khan said that according to their observations, the encampment was “peaceful.”

“I deeply deplore the universities that have called police on their students simply for expressing their voice in protest and right in assembling peacefully,” Saval told The Daily Pennsylvanian.

Encampment takes place as 128th Penn Relays is underway

The encampment on campus today coincides with the 128th Penn Relays — the oldest and largest track and field competition in the U.S. — which began this morning.

This year, 1,947 individual athletes will compete in the Penn Relays alongside 3,365 relay teams. Races will run at Franklin Field and in Penn Park through Saturday evening.

Related:

• LIVE UPDATES: Day one of Penn Relays 2024

Organizers anticipate 'low risk' night

Organizers told the crowd that programming is starting to wind down for the night, and they anticipate a “low risk” night.

Quiet hours will start around 11 p.m. Organizers requested that protestors who leave tap someone in to replace them, and that protestors bring friends with them if they come back tomorrow to “keep up the energy.”

One police car arrives on scene

Around 9:40 p.m., one police car arrived near Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. The car circled around the Split Button statue before driving back down Locust Walk towards 34th Street.

More than 20 police cars, including Penn, Drexel, and Philadelphia Police remain parked on 34th Street between Walnut and Spruce streets.

Speaker outlines arrest protocols

Two speakers outlined “know your rights” protocols to prepare protesters for potential arrests.

The speakers said that there is a hotline to support protesters if they are arrested. They encouraged protesters to fill out forms with their legal names and dates of birth so that they can be located.

“We won’t stop looking until you’re out,” one of the speakers said.

A speaker also outlines guidelines for tonight.

"Do not engage with Zionists, do not speak to cops, do not litter, pick up your trash, no drugs, no alcohol, only take photos with consent, check on your friends, respect boundaries, most importantly free Palestine,” they said.

Speakers also told protesters to “invoke their right to remain silent” if a police officer detains them. One of the speakers also told protesters not to provide law enforcement with any details about the encampment.

“We live in a police state. The fact police are around us is not an unusual thing. Please don’t panic or freak out,” one of the speakers said.

In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, a Philadelphia Police Department spokesperson wrote that "there are no reports of incidents or arrests at this time."

Pizza delivery reaches encampment

Protesters walked up Locust Walk from 34th Street, carrying over 40 boxes of pizza. They also carried other supplies, including groceries from Heirloom Market.

Philadelphia Police vehicles park by campus

Sixteen Philadelphia city police vehicles and six Philadelphia city police vans parked along 34th Street near Fisher Fine Arts Library. Protesters temporarily paused activities after an announcement to the crowd due to heightened police presence.

Speeches resumed around twenty minutes later, with organizers announcing that “police are gone for now," despite the continued presence of vans.

Protesters warn of incoming police presence

A speaker affiliated with the encampment encouraged those on the perimeter to close in and link arms around the encampment, saying that police are approaching the area.

An Instagram story posted by Philly Palestine Coalition said “cops are nearing the encampment lawn as people leave.”

Protesters are singing “We will not underestimate our power any longer, ‘cause we know together we are strong.”

Encampment programming continues

Organizers have continued to speak and sing in front of the Benjamin Franklin statue, with one organizer reciting a Hebrew prayer. One recited the names of “martyrs" killed in Gaza, and another organizer asked the crowd for supply donations for the encampment, stressing food donations in particular.

Pro-Palestinian protestors engage in various chants

Protestors on College Green have engaged in various chants since the encampment was erected.

Chants include "Long live the intifada," "There is only one solution, intifada revolution," and "From the river to the sea Palestine will be free."

Another shouted remark overheard during the rally was, "You wanna know what we say about Israelis? They're pigs." The DP could not confirm who made this remark and how many people said this.

Student pulls kifayeh off Ben Franklin statue

A counterprotestor pulled a keffiyeh off the Ben Franklin statue on College Green, which was placed by organizers at the beginning of the encampment. Protestors shouted “shame” as the student ran away, and quickly replaced the keffiyeh.

Pennsylvania state Rep. Rick Krajewski speaks to the DP

Pennsylvania state Rep. Rick Krajewski (D-Philadelphia), who represents Penn in the state legislature and was present at the protest, said to the DP it was “important for students to express their opinions … particularly when it comes to moments of oppression.”

“I support students protesting and marching to call attention to the war on Gaza,” Krajewski said. “And that’s why I’m here in solidarity.”

On April 20, Krajewski released a statement expressing concern over PAO’s deregistration. Today, he noted a trend of university administrations “clamping down on students’ ability to express themselves when it comes to Gaza” — citing arrests at Princeton University this morning as specific examples.

“I strongly urge the administration to not do the same thing here [at Penn],” Krajewski said

Penn threatens consequences for breaking University policies, laws

Penn said it was "closely monitoring" the pro-Palestinian encampment on College Green and pledged that protestors would face "consequences" for actions that violate University policies or the law.

In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian — the University's first to the media since the start of the demonstration — a spokesperson wrote that Penn has not received reports of "threatening or violent behaviors" by organizers of the encampment.

"We respect and support the rights of our community members to protest peacefully and in keeping with University policy by which we all agree to abide," the spokesperson wrote. "However, the right to free expression and to protest on our campus is not and can never be absolute."

The University also outlined what conditions will prompt it to respond to the encampment.

"We will not permit protest and speech when it devolves into words and actions that violate Penn’s policies, disrupt University business, or contribute to an intimidating, hostile, or violent environment on our campus," the spokesperson wrote. "Safety is our top priority, and there will be consequences for actions that are not permitted by University policies or local, state, or federal law."

Protestors take short break to sing

At around 6 p.m., an organizer announced that the group's programming would pause for 15 minutes. They encouraged protestors to sit down, and led the group in songs.

Protestors remain assembled in a tight circle around the encampment.

Freedom School for Palestine speaks out

At around 5:43 p.m., a Freedom School for Palestine affiliate gave a statement urging the crowd to “not fall for the ways these institutions try to unravel our bonds.”

“They fear us because our solidarity is not a dimly lit candle that can be blown out with a couple of challenges,” the speaker said.

Inside the encampment

Members of the newly formed encampment are emphasizing solidarity and community as they indicate a plan to remain on College Green indefinitely.

Organizers have encouraged those inside the encampment to stick with a partner, telling those assembled that there is safety in numbers.

There are bags of food inside the encampment as well.

"We will not underestimate our power any longer cause we know that together we are strong," the participants are singing.

Encampment participants criticize Israel's treatment of Palestinians

At 2 p.m., pro-Palestinian protestors started marching from Philadelphia City Hall, demanding higher education institutions disclose their investments and divest from Israel. Penn started preparations in anticipation of the protest, placing barricades around the Split Button and the Ben Franklin statue in front of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library.

The group — which numbered around 300 people — arrived at Penn’s campus at approximately 4 p.m. This coincided with the faculty walkout, which was also scheduled for 4 p.m.

On the other side of campus at the same time, Interim Penn President Larry Jameson and Provost John Jackson Jr. hosted a community listening session at Perry World House.

For half an hour, speakers — which included two professors and one Penn student — stood above the crowd and addressed the crowd on divestment and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Amid chants of “the more they try to silence us, the louder we will get,” protestors rushed onto College Green at 4:30 p.m., joining dozens of universities across the country to set up an encampment in support of Palestine and Gaza. Small groups of pro-Israel counterprotestors were gathered on the opposite side of the green as Muslim protesters came together for prayer.

'We are going to be here for a while,' an organizer says

“We are gonna be here for a while,” an organizer says to those who are standing in the circle, telling them they can sit.

Many of those who were initially standing around the encampment have switched to sitting as the chants resume after the prayer.

Group gathers for prayer

After setting up the encampment, Muslims from the group are now gathering for prayer. Those who are leading the group have asked that those who are not praying either surround those who are praying or surround the encampment.

Those who are praying have assembled prayer mats on the path leading up to College Hall. The crowd is now quiet, but the sound of news helicopters can be heard overhead.

Counterprotestor speaks with the DP

College junior Joseph Hochberg, a counterprotester on College Green across from the encampment, told The Daily Pennsylvanian he thought the march and encampment were “disgraceful,” and said that he was there to show his support for Israel and Jewish people.

“I think that it’s possible to call for human rights for Palestinian people without calling for violence against Jews and without calling for the erasure of Israel,” he said.

Hochberg also added that he believed the National Guard should be involved when Jewish students are “being targeted.”

College Hall entrance closed

Officers with the Division of Public Safety have closed the entrance to College Hall for the time being and are instructing people to stay off the steps.

Around eight tents have been set up

By 4:40 p.m., the protestors had set up at least 8 tents in front of College Hall.

“Stay here as long as you can. Do your homework, do not go to the library. Support the encampment,” an organizer said. “This is in solidarity with Palestine.”

Protestors rapidly set up tents

Protestors rapidly moved in front of College Hall at approximately 4:30 p.m., laying down tarps and chanting “the more they try to silence us the louder we will be.”

Faculty walkout organizer estimates 'dozens of faculty' present

Dagmawi Woubshet, an organizer for Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine and English professor, estimates that "several dozen faculty members" are present at the protest.

He outlined the three demands of the walkout in a speech, including calling for the University to disclose investments, divest from Israeli institutions involved in the "genocide in Gaza," and ensure students are not "unduly targeted."

Woubshet described himself as "heartened by the moral courage of and clarity of [Penn] students," and says students should be "supported" and not "targeted.

'No wonder donors like Marc Rowan hate the humanities'

Professor of history Eve Troutt Powell started speaking at around 4:15 p.m., describing Israel’s attacks on Gaza as “scholasticide.”

“No wonder donors like Marc Rowan hate the humanities. They have bought into the idea that universities are creating well-dressed cogs who function best in only the corporate world,” Powell said.

Powell is one of the plaintiffs in an ongoing lawsuit against Penn seeking to prevent the handover of requested documents to Congress.

Counterprotestors with Israeli flags cross Walnut Street

Two counterprotestors wearing Israeli flags arrived as the rally crossed Walnut Street. 

Over 200 protestors gathered

Over 200 protestors have paused in front of the Split Button and College Hall to join faculty members participating in the walkout. Protesters and faculty are talking and welcoming one another.

The protestors are chanting "Disclose, divest, we will not stop we will not rest."

Professors gather for walkout

Penn faculty started assembling outside the Cracked Button at 3:55 p.m.

Listening session begins

A ccommunity listening session hosted by Interim President Larry Jameson and Provost John Jackson begins at Perry World House. Multiple students, faculty, and staff will share their thoughts on the impacts of the conflict in the Middle East on Penn’s campus.

Police officers on Locust

20 police officers are on bikes at 34th and Walnut streets, with two police cars blocking off the road and traffic stopped.

Ben Franklin statue barricaded

As the rally approaches Penn’s campus, officers from Penn’s Division of Public Safety have moved barricades to limit access to the Ben Franklin statue on College Green and create a directed path on Locust Walk. Chief of Penn Police Gary Williams is on site.

Photo by Ethan Young

March joins Drexel students, turns towards Penn

The protestors joined with a group of Drexel University students as they proceed west through Drexel’s campus on Market Street.

The protestors are calling on universities to divest from Israel, with the crowd chanting that they have “student power.”

A speaker standing on the van leading the crowd told demonstrators that they are part of a “transnational student movement.” She referenced the ongoing protests at Columbia University and said that students of Philadelphia are “leading the way.”

“Disclose, divest, we will not stop we will not rest,” the demonstrators chant.

Deyana Tabatabaei, a junior at Temple University, told The Daily Pennsylvanian that she supports a ceasefire in Palestine and feels connected to the issue as an Iranian American. She added that universities have a responsibility to “uphold an image of justice” and be transparent about their investments.

The Drexel students hold a sign that appears to read, “Drexel displaces from West Philly to West Bank.”

Philadelphia Police officers, as well as several Drexel students, look on from the sidewalks as the protestors chant and clap.

March enters West Philadelphia

The march has officially entered West Philadelphia after crossing the Market Street bridge and the Schuylkill River.

“Joe Biden, shame on you,” the group is chanting. “Children die because of you.”“The students united will never be defeated,” people shout.

The group has made several references to protests that are unfolding at college campuses across the country.

As the group made its way through the city streets, onlookers watched from the sidewalks. Many have come out of office buildings as they hear the chants. Buses and cars are at a standstill.

Photo by Ethan Young.

Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro denounces universities' failure to preserve campus safety

On Wednesday, Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro called out universities nationwide for failing to adequately protect their students.

“What we’re seeing in some campuses across America, where universities can’t guarantee the safety and security of their students, it’s absolutely unacceptable,” he told Politico.

Shapiro added that it is “incumbent upon a local mayor or local governor or local town councilor, whoever is the local leadership there, to step in and enforce the law.”

In December, the governor was influential in calling for former Penn President Liz Magill’s resignation.

Related:

• Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro calls on Penn to maintain student safety
• Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro allocates Penn Vet funding for 2024-25 after Dec. withholding over antisemitism

City Hall protestors march toward Penn

The crowd, which continues to grow, is marching west down John F. Kennedy Blvd.

A Workers Voice organizer told The Daily Pennsylvanian that the march's destination is Penn.

Over two dozen Philadelphia police officers on bikes are following at the front and back of the crowd.

Penn faculty to hold walkout at 4 p.m.

Penn faculty members will hold a walkout “in defense of the First Amendment and students’ right to protest” at 4 p.m. at the Split Button, according to an Instagram story post from a member of Police Free Penn.

The walkout will be concurrent with wider student action in the Philadelphia area.

Rally starts at City Hall

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On the south side of City Hall, a crowd of at least 60 — and growing — has begun the rally.

“Resistance is justified when people are occupied,” the protestors chanted.

Many of those assembled carry flags and signs. Members of the Philadelphia Police Department are standing by.

Photos by Ethan Young and Anna Vazhaeparambil

Penn students seek dueling referendums

Penn's Muslim Student Association and Penn Israel Public Affairs Committee are seeking dueling referenda of the undergraduate student body on questions related to the University's response to the Israel-Hamas war.

The first petition, which was circulated on Wednesday by Penn MSA, asks students whether the University should divest its endowment fund from companies and organizations that "profit from, engage in, or contribute to the government of Israel's human rights violations."

The MSA petition, which gathered the 500 signatures necessary to be sent to the undergraduate student body, came before the Nominations and Elections Committee for approval on Wednesday night.

On Thursday morning, PIPAC posted a referendum in response, asking four questions related to whether Penn should continue investing in Israeli companies and adhere to the Department of Education and Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination regulations.

Students to march at Philadelphia City Hall for Gaza

Students are set to march at Philadelphia City Hall in support of Gaza on Thursday.

The march will begin at 2 p.m. and continue for approximately 2 miles, according to a Tuesday Instagram post by the Philly Palestine Coalition. Students from Penn, Temple University, and other local universities are expected to attend.

Professor of Arabic literature Huda Fakhreddine tweeted that faculty are also planning a walkout on Thursday.

The march and walkout come amid increasing campus tensions over the University’s handling of pro-Palestinian groups. On April 19, Penn revoked Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine’s status as a registered student group. Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine “strongly denounced” the deregistering of PAO in a statement on Instagram on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, over 40 University and Philadelphia organizations signed a letter expressing solidarity with PAO and criticizing the administration’s decision as efforts to “censor and antagonize those students involved in the fight for Palestinian liberation.” The Philly Palestine Coalition signed the letter, as well as University-affiliated groups including Freedom School of Palestine, Fossil Free Penn, and Police Free Penn.

University prepares for potential protests

Penn has engaged in several noticeable precautions in advance of potential protests on campus.

The Spruce Street entrance to Houston Hall has been closed. A sign on the door reads “Please use Penn Commons entrance for access to Houston Hall.”

Barricades have also been placed adjacent to the Split Button and outside Perry World House. Several Philadelphia Police Department vehicles are also present near campus.

Penn’s Division of Public Safety released a Traffic Advisory on Thursday afternoon due to expected protests and the Penn relays.

"DPS has been notified by the City of Philadelphia of expected demonstrations in the areas of Center City and West Philadelphia which may impact the evening commute,” the advisory reads. “There is the potential for traffic disruptions during the evening commute. Traffic may be impacted throughout the area, expect delays.”

In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, Miguel Torres, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Police Department, said that the department is “constantly monitoring intelligence alongside our local, state, and federal partners.”

“We encourage all Philadelphians to exercise their right to protest peacefully and lawfully, and will continue to collaborate with our university public safety partners,” Torres wrote.

Penn to host listening session later today

Interim Penn President Larry Jameson and Provost John Jackson, Jr. will host a community listening session at 4 p.m. today at Perry World House.

The event, which is limited to PennCard holders, invites students, faculty, and staff to share thoughts on the impacts of the Israel-Hamas War on Penn’s campus. It will follow similar protocol to a University Council Open forum, according to a University Notification announcing the event.

Jameson announced the listening session, as well as a series of steps to support the community, in an email to the Penn community Monday evening.

In a separate message to the community this morning, Jameson reinforced support for Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students in response to feedback from the MAP student advisory group about these students feeling "unacknowledged" in University anti-hate or campus safety statements.“

The growing unrest in cities and on other college and university campuses across the country is deeply unsettling,” he wrote. “Please know that Penn is here to support you.”

Photo by George Botros

Related:

• Jameson outlines steps to support Penn community amid national campus unrest, start of Passover

Pro-Palestinian organizations, professors criticize University decision to ban student group

Penn community members expressed surprise and concern in the wake of Penn’s decision to ban Penn Students Against the Occupation, a pro-Palestinian student group, last weekend.

In multiple statements, pro-Palestine advocacy groups denounced the decision to revoke PAO’s student group membership. On April 24, over 40 Penn and Philadelphia organizations signed a letter to Philadelphia universities criticizing the decision, stating that they "wholly and utterly reject such flagrant abuses of power."

Several Penn professors, and the Executive Committee of the Penn chapter of the American Association of University Professors, raised concerns about free speech and administrators’ tactics in the wake of the ban. The AAUP-Penn statement called the ban of PAO “unjustified” and the latest instance of “the capricious and one-sided suppression of dissent at Penn this year.”

Photo by Abhiram Juvvadi

Related:

• Penn community divided on pro-Palestinian group ban, question University approach
• University bans pro-Palestinian student group Penn Against the Occupation from campus