Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protestors occupy Tulane campus, 6 arrested

NEW ORLEANS — Hundreds of protesters calling for a ceasefire in Israel’s war in Gaza occupied a portion of Tulane University’s campus on Monday, setting up tents along St. Charles Avenue on a campus lawn in front of Gibson Hall and refusing to move despite demands from police.

The protest, organized by Tulane and Loyola University student groups, was similar to those that have cropped up at campuses across the country over the past several weeks. But despite a heavy police presence, as of Tuesday morning, the Tulane demonstration had yet to result in mass arrests of protesters recently seen at Columbia University, the University of Texas at Austin and others.

Protesters convened at 5 p.m. first marching along Freret Street before attempting to set up tents on the lawn near St. Charles Avenue. Police, including officers from the Tulane University Police Department and mounted units from the New Orleans Police Department, initially tried to confiscate tent materials, scuffling with some and forcing them to the ground.

NOPD officers on horseback rode into the crowd. And Tulane Police arrested six people, accusing them of a range of charges including trespassing and battery of an officer, according to a Monday night statement from Tulane Associate Vice President of Public Safety Kirk Bouyelas.

Following those early arrests, protesters successfully set up a handful of tents on the campus as others formed a human barricade around them. Officers with the NOPD and TUPD stood down but maintained a perimeter around the demonstration and set up floodlights after dark.

Along with their demand for a ceasefire in the war — which has left tens of thousands dead and more than 1 million Palestinians displaced — protesters chanted calls for the university to provide the public with information on its financial investments and divest from companies that do business with the Israeli government. A smaller counterprotest, which included students waving Israeli flags, formed in the St. Charles neutral ground.

Never seen this before-

Tulane using lyric-less upbeat music…on a loop… to drown out protestors. @FOX8NOLA pic.twitter.com/WVe6y9h247

— Chris Joseph (@Chris_D_Joseph) April 30, 2024

Tulane has responded by closing several buildings on campus. Classes that normally meet in Gibson, Tilton-Memorial and Dinwiddie Halls are being held remotely, according to a statement from Tulane President Michael Fitts. Fitts also discouraged students and members of the public from gathering on the lawn where the protest is taking place.

“Arrests have already been made and suspensions are being issued,” Fitts said in the statement. “We will provide updates on this unfolding situation as they become available. We continue to work with local and state law enforcement on next steps in ending this unlawful protest in a way that ensures the safety of our community.”

As of Tuesday morning, the encampment was still intact, according to social media posts by the Tulane and Loyola student groups.

This article first appeared on Verite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.