Interim president, provost meet with organizers

Members of the 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment' on College Green met with Interim Penn President Larry Jameson and Provost John Jackson Jr. on Saturday evening.

Organizers wrote in a statement that until the encampment's demands are met, they "will continue to occupy this space." The statement comes as the encampment enters its third evening — signaling that administrators are in dialogue with protesters despite demanding 24 hours ago that they disband their encampment. A request for comment was left with a University spokesperson.

"Listening to the voices of Palestinian organizers and allies means disclosing, divesting, and defending them," the statement read. "In contradiction with the University's notification on the supposed belonging of Muslim, Arab, and Palestinian students at Penn, a failure to meet these three demands demonstrates that this prior email was nothing but platitudes."

The group referred to their demands as the “bare minimum” — describing them as “the floor, not the ceiling." Organizers added that they walked administrators through their three demands during the meeting.

"We were disappointed to hear that administrators viewed our demands as unreasonable," the statement read. "This indicates a failure on the part of University leadership to understand why we have established our encampment."

The encampment's three main goals are the disclosure of University investments, financial divestment from Israel, and the defense of Palestinian students — including the reinstatement of Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine, which was deregistered last weekend.

Jameson and Jackson claimed "financial transparency is bad business sense," according to the statement, and compared the administration's treatment of protesters' demands to peer institutions like Columbia University.

Read more below.

Related:

• Penn's interim president, provost meet with organizers of pro-Palestinian encampment

AAUP-Penn, Phila. politicians urge Penn admin. to prevent violence at encampment

In a statement published to state Rep. Rick Krajewski’s (D-Philadelphia) social media accounts Saturday evening, the Penn chapter of the American Association of University Professors and seven Philadelphia-area politicians called on the University to refrain from taking disciplinary action against peaceful demonstrations on campus.

The statement, referencing "violent police action" taken against student and faculty protesters on college campuses nationwide, urged Penn to prevent similar violence from "being replicated here in Philadelphia."

Politicians who signed onto the statement include two who represent Penn in elected office — 2013 Engineering graduate Krajewski and Philadelphia City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier. Other signatories were Philadelphia Councilmembers At-Large Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke, state Sen. Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia), and state Reps. Chris Rabb (D-Philadelphia) and 2022 Nursing Ph.D. graduate Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia).

“Many of us have visited the Penn Encampment ourselves,” the statement wrote. “We have seen organizers put significant attention toward ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all students present, including counter-protesters.”

The statement urged Penn administration not to call in law enforcement or file charges against peaceful protesters. It also urged Penn to negotiate in "good faith" with organizers.

Additionally, the statement noted the “strong precedent” for student encampments, including the encampment set up by Fossil Free Penn in 2022 calling for Penn's divestment from fossil fuels.

“Generation after generation, in times of crisis, students have been at the forefront of movements for peace and justice,” the statement wrote. “As millions of Palestinians face immense loss and violence, our students are leading the nation once again. Penn’s administrators should feel proud that their students are engaged in this thoughtful, caring, and essential work.”

Krajewski, Saval, and Khan have visited the encampment in the past several days. A representative from Gauthier’s office was at the encampment on Friday, and Krajewski said during a speech to the encampment that Brooks and O’Rourke offered their solidarity.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee to hold special meeting on Monday

The Faculty Senate Executive Committee will hold a “special meeting” on Monday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. according to an email invite obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian.

In the email — sent to those on the Faculty Senate Executive Committee — Faculty Senate Chair Tulia Falleti called for the meeting to hold an “information exchange and discussion of current events on our campus.”

Falleti, a Latin American studies professor, said in the email that the attendance of a “senior member of the administration” at the meeting is “possible” and will be announced when confirmed.

“Thank you in advance for attending this important meeting and for your service to the Faculty Senate,” Falleti wrote.

Not everyone at encampment is student, Philadelphia Inquirer reports

An encampment organizer told The Philadelphia Inquirer that not everyone at the encampment is a student, rather describing it as an “organic coalition” of people with a variety of affiliations. The organizer described the encampment as consisting of “community members and the Philly Palestine Coalition.”

The Philly Palestine Coalition is a self-identified community organization of “Palestinian, Black & Indigenous communities working to uplift Palestinian liberation,” according to their Instagram.

24 hours later, encampment continues to sing and play music

President Jameson sent an email to the Penn community last night at 8:42 PM, which said that failure to disband  “immediately” would result in “sanctions consistent either our due process procedures.

A letter from AAUP-Penn Executive Committee published earlier today describes an “implicit threat to clear the encampment within 24 hours.

At the 24 hour mark, police presence remained minimal, and music and singing has given way to calm discussion within the encampment.  

Encampment quiets down

After a heated period of exchange between members of the encampment and counterprotesters, most of the tension has subsided.

Music is playing, and people are gathered quietly within the encampment. One person from the encampment holding a large Palestinian flag attempted to take a flyer of the Israeli hostages left by the counterprotesters off of the barrier, but was stopped by a person in a fluorescent vest.

The police presence has also decreased substantially. Muslim members of the encampment are gathering in prayer.

Individual shouts at counterprotesters, who have now left

An individual on the pro-Palestinian side of the barricade yelled at the counterprotesters, who were holding Israeli flags. The protester yelled “You’re Nazis, you’re literally Nazis,” at the group, which had previously identified itself to The Daily Pennsylvanian as “concerned members of the Jewish community.”

He also called the counterprotesters names including “cunts” and “Hitler’s children.”

The DP could not identify whether the individual has any affiliation to Penn, any student organization, or the encampment.

Shortly afterwards, the counterprotesters decided to leave and were escorted by police.

Encampment organizers and pro-Israel counterprotesters make dueling remarks

In a speech to the crowd, an encampment organizer compared the pro-Israel counterprotesters to those who protested in support of Trump after the 2020 election.

“We had people threatening bombs who were also hateful, Islamophobic, racist, and murderous,” the organizer said. “They were interested in money more than anything else, and it looks very, very similar.”

The organizer then led the crowd in chants of “Palestine will be what? Free.”

Protesters block woman from videoing encampment

Protesters blocked a woman who identified herself as Jewish from videoing the encampment.

After being asked to stop filming the inside of the encampment by a protest marshal, she called over Penn Police officers, who asked her to move away from the demonstration and behind the barricade — which is in line with police officers.

The individual asked the police officers why she should have to move if the police would do nothing to prevent her from being “intimidated,” and called for the suspensions of students involved with the encampment.

Protestors on both sides chant, with crowd increasing to around 150 people

Around 15 counterprotesters, previously identified as “concerned” members of the Jewish community, read the names of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas and began a “Bring them home now!” chant. A speakerphone played the refrain “rape is not resistance.”

Protesters from the Gaza Solidarity Encampment responded with chants of “Intifada, revolution” and “How many kids have you killed today?” The number of individuals on the pro-Palestinian side appears to have grown significantly.

The interaction began as Van Pelt Library closed for the day, drawing attention from students leaving the building. A police line was established on the barricade between the two groups.

Counterprotesters erect signs of Israeli hostages

Around 5:30 p.m., counterprotesters arrived carrying Israeli and American flags. The individuals began staking signs bearing the images of Israeli hostages being held by Hamas and the words “Bring them home now!” on the lawn in front of Van Pelt Library. Posters were also taped to trees and carried by counterprotesters.

The group told The Daily Pennsylvanian they were members of the local Jewish community who were “very concerned.” One individual identified himself as a 1982 Penn alumnus, and noted there were other University alumni and faculty present in the group.

Encampment pauses donations, cites excess supplies

The Gaza Solidarity Encampment on College Green has an excess supply of food, water, and medical supplies, and has stopped accepting donations, according to an Instagram story posted by Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine.

As of yesterday around 4 p.m., an organizer at the encampment told The Philadelphia Inquirer that they had raised more than $13,000. Most of the funds will be sent to relief efforts in Gaza, the Inquirer reported.

Encampment breaks off into programming

The teach-in and question and answer session has concluded. Members of the encampment are now taking part in two activities: a yoga session led by Yogis for Palestine and a police liaison training.

Protesters chant, hear from speakers

Protesters were singing and chanting “Free Palestine,” “From the River to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “Down with occupation, up with liberation.”

Two speakers, one of whom The Daily Pennsylvanian could not identify, gave speeches as part of ongoing programming.

African American studies professor at Winston-Salem State University James Pope delivered a speech on the historical and ongoing solidarity between Black and Palestinian liberation movements.

“I’m talking about a one thousand year relationship. A one thousand year struggle against European imperialism, colonialism, and chattel slavery,” the other speaker said.

Undergraduate Assembly to consider joint statement in solidarity with Barnard, Columbia students

Penn’s Undergraduate Assembly is set to consider a joint statement in solidarity with students at Barnard College and Columbia University at its weekly meeting on Sunday.

Consideration of the joint statement is currently listed on the UA’s agenda for a general body meeting at 9 p.m. tomorrow. The statement is listed as the third item in the UA president’s report.

According to the agenda, the UA Executive Board previously discussed a “Joint Statement in Solidarity and student protests” in a meeting on Wednesday.

Related:

• Penn student government approves referendum vote on University divestment from Israel
• Penn students seek dueling referendums on Israel divestment as campus tensions rise
• Ria Ellendula, Michelle Chen elected Undergraduate Assembly president, vice president

Counterprotesters to hold rally 'in support of a peaceful campus environment'

Counterprotesters will hold a rally on Sunday at 12 p.m. at Annenberg Plaza tomorrow, according to a flyer obtained by The Daily Pennsylvanian. The counterprotest was described in the flyer as a "Penn community rally in support of a peaceful campus environment for Jewish faculty, staff, and students."

The flyer asked participants to bring flags, make their voices heard, and say no to antisemitism, hate speech, intimidation, and hate on campus. Security will be present, speakers who will be present will be announced later, according to the flyer.

'Seder in the Streets for Gaza' moved to encampment

A 'Seder in the Streets' event supporting Gaza, originally scheduled to be held at Dilworth Park, will now be held at 34th and Walnut streets alongside the College Green encampment, according to an Instagram post by Jewish Voice for Peace Philly.

The event, which is also hosted by Families for Ceasefire Philly, will take place at 3 p.m. tomorrow.

Protesters have not been arrested, contrary to report

Contrary to a report by The Washington Post, no protesters have been arrested, and the encampment has not been broken up by Penn's administration.

Rather, the encampment remains intact and uninterrupted at this time. There are approximately 40 tents on College Green.

Administration has not approached organizers

Penn's administration has made no attempt to approach student organizers, one of the organizers told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Another organizer said that the group would remain at the encampment until their three demands are met, adding that there is "real fear of disciplinary action or police action." The organizer said that they were detailed by campus police for 30 minutes a few weeks ago, according to the Inquirer.

The encampment's three main goals remain the disclosure of University investments, the financial divestment from Israel, and the defending of Palestinian students — including the reinstatement of Penn Students Against the Occupation.

Philadelphia police 'monitoring the situation'

In a statement to The Daily Pennsylvanian, City Communications Director Joe Grace wrote that Philadelphia police was “monitoring the situation” in conjunction with Penn Police.

The Philadelphia Police Department, in a response to a previous request for comment, declined to rule out the possibility of their participation of arrests for those in the encampment. Since College Green is private property, the city police force would require authorization from the University before intervening.

Lehigh professor leads discussion in encampment

Nitzan Lebovic, a professor at Lehigh University and Apter Chair in Holocaust Studies and Ethical Values, led a discussion with encampment participants.

Lebovic, who studies fascism and fascist oppression, told The Daily Pennsylvanian after the discussion that it had two main themes: expressions of violence and its manifestation in fascist regimes, and university administrations nationwide in relation to current events.

He said that university administrators "stand on the wrong side of both history and human rights." He added that he visited the encampment to express solidarity with and gratitude for the demonstrators.

He followed up with a written statement to the DP about the demonstrators, saying "I believe they're doing something crucially important — the values they stand for concern not only American support of mass violence but how their own university betrays its educational mission and threatens the freedom of expression and freedom of organization, which are constitutional rights.”

Individual engages in heated exchange with protesters

An individual who identified themselves as a Penn student engaged in a heated exchange with protesters on Locust Walk in front of the encampment on College Green. He yelled profane comments towards protesters, including “F**k all of you. Israel will be alive a lot longer than all of you.” He also called the demonstration a form of “harassment towards every Jew on campus.”

Penn Police officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, and asked the individual to step away from the area. Legal observers from the encampment filmed the interactions and attempted to de-escalate as well.

Organizers from the encampment asked anyone involved with the demonstration to disengage and return to the programming on College Green. The individual waited on the outskirts of the encampment and pointed a phone camera toward protesters sitting nearby.

Local Muslim organizations release open letter to Phila. college presidents, district leaders

The local chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has published an open letter to college presidents and school district leaders in the Philadelphia region demanding "moral leadership" and a respectful response to pro-Palestinian activism on campus.

"Over the last 6 months we have heard from students advocating for Palestine how they felt invisible, undervalued and not supported by our region’s educational institutions," the letter read.

The letter was signed by 21 local mosques and community organizations, including Muslim Life at Penn. The groups wrote that the ongoing police presence, disciplinary threats, and toleration of doxxing and harassment of students are "unacceptable."

"As a leader of a respected educational institution, we ask that you show moral leadership by supporting these students’ freedom of expression and the right to organize," they wrote.

AAUP-Penn condemns administration's response to encampment

The Penn Chapter of the American Association of University Professors condemned Interim Penn President Larry Jameson's demands that the Gaza Solidarity Encampment disband in a letter to Penn administrators this morning.

In the letter — which was sent to Jameson, Provost John Jackson Jr., and Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli — the AAUP-Penn Executive Committee wrote that they were "deeply disturbed" by Jameson's April 26 email to the Penn community. They described Jameson's claims as based on "unsubstantiated allegations" that have been disputed by faculty and students who have attended the encampment.

"Your statement mischaracterizes the overall nature of an antiwar protest that necessarily involves strong emotions on both sides but has not, to our knowledge, involved any actual violence or threats of violence to individuals on our campus," the letter reads. "To the contrary, those involved in the demonstration have worked to maintain a nonviolent space of discussion, debate, and even disagreement, in the spirit of an educational environment."

A University spokesperson declined to comment on the letter.

In the letter, AAUP-Penn wrote that they received reports of "potential harassment and intimidating conduct" directed at the peaceful protesters. They expressed concern that complaints of harassment are being evaluated in a "discriminatory manner."

The AAUP-Penn Executive Committee further expressed concern at Jameson's claim that the encampment violates "unnamed facilities policies," asserting that the encampment does not require a permit under Penn's Open Expression Guidelines.

"You may be implying that the encampment violates some other facilities policy—which one, we cannot know and cannot evaluate while your implicit threat to clear the encampment within 24 hours looms," the letter read. "What we do know is that during this academic year, Penn’s central administration, like university administrations nationwide, has turned to silencing speech critical of the war in Gaza through discriminatory enforcement of mundane and petty rules."

The letter calls on the Penn administration to end its "pattern of discriminatory rule enforcement," stating that the targeting of speech critical of the war in Gaza is a violation of Penn’s Guidelines on Open Expression. They wrote that AAUP-Penn is "closely monitoring [the administration's] actions," calling on the University to maintain its commitment to open expression and maintain Penn's "long and proud" tradition of peaceful protest.

"Do not escalate the situation. Do not violate the rights of students and faculty. Remember that the actions you choose to take today will be your legacy," the letter read.

Encampment remains large, programming yet to begin

Almost 40 tents are currently set up on College Green. The area around the "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" remains quiet, with minimal police presence.

It remains unclear if and when programming will begin today.

Quiet morning on College Green

A quiet morning marks the beginning of the third day of the encampment on College Green.

In a post to Instagram yesterday afternoon, Philly Palestine Coalition and Penn Against the Occupation reaffirmed the group’s right to protest.

“We would like to affirm that the encampment is within our rights as peaceful student and community protestors, and has been a source of strength and safety for our community during an incredibly difficult time,” the post reads.

A large number of tents, in addition to public art, remain on the Green, and supplies continue to be delivered. There is minimal police presence, with two officers taking footage of the encampment on cellphones.