Issue 11 • Vol. 101
Loyola University New Orleans • Since 1923
May 3, 2024
Above pro-Palestine protesters form a circle around an encampment on Tulane's Gibson lawn on April 29, 2024.
SEE PHOTOS PAGE 8
Pro-Palestine protester waves Palestinian flag at the encampment on April 30, 2024.
SWAT approaches protesters on April 30, 2024 on St. Charles Avenue while student records.
30 Hours of Encampment Students organize protest on Tulane's lawn, 14 arrested
Kloe Witt kgwitt@my.loyno.edu
Chants for Palestine rang through uptown New Orleans for over 30 hours from a pro-Palestine encampment at Tulane University. Loyola and Tulane students banded together for the Popular University for Gaza movement with other college students around the United States in protest of tuition dollars being used to fund Israel. The encampment lasted from 6 p.m. on Monday, April 29 until police and SWAT broke it up and arrested 14 people around 3 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1. The encampment was a joint effort between Tulane and Loyola’s chapters of Students for a Democratic Society. Police Sweep At 3:08 a.m., a police car with a
large light attached to the hood pulled in front of the protest. Police then began to surround the encampment. SWAT then entered from the west side of the lawn. Protesters continued to chant for Palestine as 11 people remained sitting in front of the barrier they had built on Gibson lawn. SWAT made their way through the medical and supplies tents before they began arresting protesters still at the lawn. Loyola students Carson Cruse and Juleea Berthelot were among the 11 arrested on Tulane’s property. Protesters said they were told before they entered the encampment by police to move to the neutral ground to protest if they wanted to avoid arrest. Two of those who moved to the neutral ground were arrested, one of which was pushed to the ground by police after a water
bottle was thrown at officers. Stella Cziment, the Independent Police Monitor for the City of New Orleans, said that even though the neutral ground is public property, they were able to arrest protesters for trespassing since they saw them leave Tulane’s campus. One Loyola student, who was not involved with the protest, was arrested by SWAT while walking on the Audobon side of St. Charles. While in the neutral zone, SWAT and police pushed and aimed guns at protesters, as well as fired non-lethal rounds towards the ground at the crowds feet. All arrested protesters were released midday Wednesday with no bail and no bond. They have court on Monday, May 6. Police destroyed around $1,000 worth of medical supplies including needles, drug test kits, and first aid,
according to organizers. One student left their phone on Tulane’s property, which is being held with Tulane University Police Department. After the area was cleared, police occupied Gibson Lawn and put fences around the area with signs warning of trespassing. Aftermath • The encampment was organized by Loyola and Tulane students with demands for their universities. • Loyola SDS demanded Loyola University: • ensure support for affected students • release a public statement acknowledging the proPalestine movement • increase funding for the new director of multicultural affairs to advocate for minority
students divest from Israeli corporations, corporations that support Israel • disclose the annual investments of its endowment Tulane SDS demanded Tulane University: • divest from Israel corporations • disclose the annual investments of endowment • cut ties with Israeli universities, including canceling birthright trips • urge a cease resolution by the city council of New Orleans • offer support to Arab and Palestinian students “The hope, obviously, is that if they meet our demands, we can come back. And we can go back to business as usual. But right now, they’re supporting a genocide," •
See ENCAMPMENT, page 4