'As long as we have to': Pro-Palestine protest, encampment at UW-Milwaukee continues for 11th day

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Pro-Palestine protests and encampment continued Thursday, May 9 for the 11th day in a row at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) campus.

UW-Milwaukee joins many other universities across the U.S. to protest in support of Palestinians abroad amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Day 11 was met with another round of rainstorms. Student protest organizers told CBS 58 News they spoke to the administration twice now --once on Monday and again Wednesday afternoon. Both parties seem hopeful they will come to an agreement.

Audari Tamayo told CBS 58 News on Thursday that so far, none of their demands have been met by the administration, though communication has been steady.

"We're making progress in our demands, you know, some demands are easier to meet than others, such as the statements, which are the bare minimum," said Tamayo, co-chair for the Students for Democratic Society organization.

Tamayo said protestors demand the following items:

• UW-Milwaukee to disclose all financial records or mutual equity funds, bonds etc. in an itemized list
• UW-Milwaukee to divest accordingly, and cut all ties with weapon manufacturers
• UW-Milwaukee to cut all ties with educational institutions abroad, including study abroad trips and student exchange programs
• UW-Milwaukee to issue a statement that condemns what protestors say is a genocide of the Palestinian people

In a statement to CBS 58 News Thursday, UWM said, in part:

"The encampment is a violation of state law. Camping on campus grounds violates Chapter 18 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code."

The code clearly states that no person may picnic or camp on university lands, except in specific designated areas. UWM's administration however, said they do not have any designated camping grounds on campus.

Moreover, Tamayo believes protestors have not been unlawful, in fact, he says they have remained peaceful.

"We're not picnicking, we're not camping, we’re protesting here," he said. "This is all Palestine-solidarity encampment."

UW-Milwaukee went on to also state:

"At this point, UWM has not given a deadline... In the event of an imminent public safety concern or an emergency, UWM Police will exercise its authority to keep the campus community safe."

But Tamayo insists that protestors will stay put for as long as it takes.

"We're going to be here all summer, we're going to be here all fall if we have to, we'll be here until next spring," he said adamantly. "We're prepared to be here for as long as we have to, this encampment will last as long as the administration wants it to last."

Tamayo also told CBS 58 News that demonstrators will continue to protest peacefully, even if police are called to intervene.