PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTEST CAMP AT UNIVERSITY OF PENNSLYVANIA JOINS SWELLING INTERNATIONAL WAVE OF STUDENT PROTEST

Pro-Palestinian student protest camp at the University of Pennsylvania. Photo credits: JB Nicholas.

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This is a developing report. Check back for additional news.

A pro-Palestinian protest camp started on the campus green of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia Thursday afternoon were still there Friday evening. 

Police action does not appear to be imminent, despite a violent crackdown on pro-Palestinian camps at other colleges on Wednesday and on Thursday.

"The Philly community has our back," protest organizers told The Free Lance. "It feels inspiring."

Because pro-Palestinian protests are being falsely equated with anti-Semitism by supporters of Israel, the The Free Lance granted protesters’ request for anonymity.

Pennsylvania's governor, Democrat Josh Shapiro, issued a statement through a spokesperson saying "Pennsylvanians have a right to peacefully protest—so long as they are doing so within the law and in compliance with university policy.”

“The Governor has also made it clear that universities must keep their students safe and take a stand to combat hate and antisemitism," he added.

Student protesters at Cornell University have also been allowed to stay, The Free Lance found on Friday.

The pro-Palestinian camp-style protest at U-Penn. Photo credit: JB Nicholas.

The Penn camp, called the "Gaza Solidarity Camp" by protesters,  was established after a march through the streets of Philadelphia by hundreds of Penn students, students from Temple and Drexel faculty and concerned local residents, organizers said.

It followed "days of rising tensions across the University," the student newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian, reported. College administrators suspended a student group called "Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine." There were also dueling student referendums on whether the university should divest from Israel.

“As we have previously stated, on numerous occasions, the University of Pennsylvania does not support boycotts, divestment, or sanctions against Israel," a University spokesperson said.

During The Free Lance's Friday afternoon visit, about 20 tents were erected in the campus's only green public space, next to a statue of Benjamin Franklin. Students draped the statue with protest signs, but officials removed them on Friday. Philadelphia police surrounded the statute with metal French barricades and stood by to ensure protesters left the statute alone.

Around the core camp, around 250 people sat on grassy lawns and talked in small groups. Protest signs hung all around, more were being painted to hang, and food donations poured in. A clothesline with written statements by protesters explaining their reasons for demonstrating were also hung.

While there may be peace with the authorities for now, there are a number of university events scheduled for the square in the coming days that may result in the university calling on police to evict the protesters.

"Things are tense, but we feel hope," protest organizers said.

The Penn protesters demand that the university disclose investments with Israel, divest from Israel and defend Palestinian freedom of speech.

Shortly before 6:00 pm, protesters took a break from dialogue while a muezzin called the adhan for the evening prayer. For a moment, melodic Arabic replaced the buzz of police and TV news helicopters hovering overhead.

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