2024 University of Oregon pro-Palestinian campus occupation explained
On April 29, 2024, approximately 100 University of Oregon students established a camp on the Eugene campus to support Palestinians in Gaza and demanding action from administrators.[1] [2] [3] [4] As part of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses, demonstrators requested for the university to divest from “the state of Israel, Israeli companies, and any weapons or surveillance manufacturing.”[5]
Timeline
May 1
On May 1, the University of Oregon president, Karl Scholz, made a statement regarding the encampment. While explicitly supporting the student right to protest and exchange ideas, he criticized protester demands for divestment as having a "performative aspect."[6] Despite this, 74 university faculty and staff have signed an open letter in support of the encampment.
May 5–6
By May 5, the encampment had grown to nearly 150 tents.[7] On the afternoon of May 6, encampment spokespersons alleged that they had received a letter from university administrators threatening to revoke academic amnesty from protesters should the camp remain the following day at noon. This came amidst complaints from some Jewish students among whom the encampment had caused discomfort. In response to this, one protester stated that the demonstration calls for formal protection for Jewish students, and that Jewish student-represented organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace have helped in setting up the encampment.[8]
May 15–16
On May 15, the first criminal charge in relation to the occupation was handed to a student protestor for applying posters to campus buildings. On May 16, the encampment relocated to Johnson Hall and a total of 17 meetings were held between the protestors and various representatives and negotiation teams from the university.[9]
May 22
On May 22, the protestors came to an agreement with the University of Oregon negotiation team. This agreement included the end of Sabra Hummus sales on campus, a new Middle Eastern North African cultural space on campus, new initiatives to expand opportunities for Palestinian scholars to study at University of Oregon, the creation of the UO Senate Working Group on Ethical Investment, Purchasing & Contracting, and a ceasefire statement to be made by President John Karl Scholz. [10]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Cyr . Miranda . 2024-04-29 . Pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampment at University of Oregon campus in Eugene . 2024-05-01 . The Register-Guard . en-US . 2024-04-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240429231653/https://www.registerguard.com/story/news/education/2024/04/29/pro-palestinian-protesters-set-up-encampment-on-university-of-oregon-campus/73500629007/ . live .
- Web site: Wilk . Nathan . 2024-04-29 . University of Oregon students begin encampment, call for boycott of Israel . 2024-05-01 . opb . en . 2024-04-30 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240430115219/https://www.opb.org/article/2024/04/29/universit-of-oregon-students-begin-encampment-call-israel-boycott/ . live .
- Web site: Pietsch . Chris . 2024-04-29 . Coalition of pro-Palestinian protesters gathers at University of Oregon encampment . 2024-05-01 . The Register-Guard . en-US . 2024-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507034156/https://www.registerguard.com/picture-gallery/news/2024/04/29/scenes-from-a-pro-palestinian-protest-camp-at-the-university-of-oregon/73503382007/ . live .
- Web site: 2024-04-30 . Pro-Palestinian protest sweeps University of Oregon . 2024-05-01 . KEZI 9 News . en . 2024-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507034330/https://www.kezi.com/video/pro-palestinian-protest-sweeps-university-of-oregon/video_3c7341d3-0ad8-5cea-91d8-44d48e427236.html . live .
- Web site: Team . Daily Emerald News . 2023-11-27 . University of Oregon pro-Palestine encampment wraps up first week . 2024-05-07 . Daily Emerald . en . 2024-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507034157/https://www.dailyemerald.com/news/university-of-oregon-pro-palestine-encampment-wraps-up-first-week/article_a1664680-0afe-11ef-8914-ef25910736b6.html . live .
- Web site: Team . Daily Emerald News . 2023-11-27 . With no plan to remove students, Scholz says divestment is a "performative aspect" . 2024-05-07 . Daily Emerald . en . 2024-05-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240506184503/https://www.dailyemerald.com/news/with-no-plan-to-remove-students-scholz-says-divestment-is-a-performative-aspect/article_f5b50c5e-0814-11ef-9431-3be179131458.html . live .
- Web site: Team . Daily Emerald News . 2023-11-27 . University of Oregon pro-Palestine encampment wraps up first week . 2024-05-07 . Daily Emerald . en . 2024-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507034157/https://www.dailyemerald.com/news/university-of-oregon-pro-palestine-encampment-wraps-up-first-week/article_a1664680-0afe-11ef-8914-ef25910736b6.html . live .
- Web site: Desaulniers . Robert . Vacca . Joey . 2024-05-06 . Jewish students speak out about protest at University of Oregon campus . 2024-05-07 . KEZI 9 News . en . 2024-05-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240507034427/https://www.kezi.com/news/jewish-students-speak-out-about-protest-at-university-of-oregon-campus/article_a0e17710-0c0d-11ef-897a-530ccc34c080.html . live .
- Web site: After the Encampment . Brady . Emerson . Eugene Weekly . 2024-06-06 . 2024-06-06.
- Web site: University of Oregon, pro-Palestinian protesters reach agreement, encampment comes down . Cyr . Miranda . The Register-Guard . 2024-05-23 . 2024-06-06.
