WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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By: Annika Harshbarger
TRANSCRIPT
56 people have been arrested since protests started in Dunn Meadow Thursday morning, due to an overnight policy change from Indiana University making prior approval necessary to have tents on campus.
Dunn Meadow has been designated as an area to hold public forums for expression on all subjects Since 1969. Force should not be used to execute the rules around enduring structures according to the office of the vice provost.
The new policy took effect on Wednesday and states that university approval must be given for signs, tents, and other temporary structures.
33 people were arrested Thursday afternoon in Dunn Meadow while protesting Indiana University’s connections to organizations supporting the genocide in Gaza. The protest has been mainly organized by the IU Divestment Coalition. They will be protesting until the following demands listed on their instagram on Thursday have been met.
“The end of the Crane partnership, the resignation of IU administrators Pamela Whitten, Rahul Shrivastav, and Carrie Docherty, financial transparency and divestment from Israel and adherence to BDS.”
On Thursday Bryce Greene, second year PhD student and spokesperson for the IU Divestment Coalition, spoke about the arrests from earlier that day.
“They shoved people to the ground… and people were arrested”
“Prepare people to be prepared for it”
People have reported being confused during their detainment due to silence from the university and police. 32 people were released from the Monroe County Jail with 1 year trespassing bans from IU. Many protesters live on campus creating issues for where to sleep that night.
Malaika khan: “A few of our members… “
Protestors felt that it was too dangerous to sleep in the encampment Thursday night. They decided to regroup at 11 am Friday to continue the protest.
With everybody on edge from the arrest the night before the focus of the day was morale. There were open mic nights, rallies at sample gates, and a movie screening.
Only to be interrupted by police vehicles driving by every once in a while and counter protestors blasting music from across the street and dancing with Israeli flags. They decided to sleep in Dunn meadow for the first time leading to arrests on Saturday.
23 people were arrested Saturday for trespassing and resisting law enforcement including the president of the Palestine Solidarity Committee and Bryce Greene the IU Divestment Coalition spokesperson. Greene has received a 5 year no trespassing ban on any Indiana University property.
From Thursday to Saturday there were rumors of two snipers sitting on the Indiana Memorial Union roof watching protestors. The Palestine Solidarity Committee Instagram posted a photo Saturday of two men walking through the IMU outfitted in military grade clothing, and what appears to be large guns poking out of their large backpacks. The committee captioned the photo saying:
“Snipers at Indiana University escorted by admin for the Gaza encampment where students, faculty, and community members (including toddlers) protest genocide and demand IU divest.”
Following the arrests there were protests outside the Monroe County Jail, in Dunn Meadow and the fieldhouse where protestors were rumored to have been held. Protestors slept in Dunn meadow for the second night.
Protestors have gained support across campus and into the community. Resulting in statements from student organizations such as the directors of the Indiana Memorial Union Board and schools such as the Media School concerned about free speech. As a result they have put out a call for an indefinite walk out, and calls to email professors about shutting down final exams to show the widespread support for the protests.
The Indiana Memorial Union Board talked about the police presence in the IMU leading to an atmosphere of fear dividing the campus.
The protest continues until the demands of the IU Divestment Coalition are met.
“I have to reiterate…”
