UVM student organizers decide to take down pro-Palestinian encampment
BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - After 10 days of a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Vermont, students say most of the tents are coming down Wednesday.
From chants earlier this week vowing to stay put until their demands were met, to an encampment with only a few tents left, UVM students on Wednesday began to wrap up their 10-day pro-Palestinian protest.
“We are fully aware that the student body, the people who have the power to fight, many of them will likely be leaving,” said one student who asked not to be identified.
Over the past week and a half, the encampment grew to more than 90 tents, but by Wednesday, only half a dozen remained. Students cited the impending end of the semester as the reason to shut down.
Through the course of their protest, students called for the cancellation of this year’s planned commencement speaker, U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who they say vetoed three ceasefire resolutions. UVM’s president on Friday announced she would not be speaking.
“We are incredibly, incredibly proud of that victory. That is an unequivocal demonstration of our power as a collective and as students,” said the student.
The end of the encampment comes as UVM administrators began to crack down on students for violating campus policy. While students did not point to this as the reason, they say only a small percentage of students are facing disciplinary actions.
UVM officials said in a statement they were not made aware of the intentions to clean up the camp but appreciate that students have made efforts to bring their demonstration closer to compliance.
Students say the remainder of the tents will be removed over the next few days.
Governor Phil Scott Wednesday called the end of the encampment positive news, avoiding further controversy at next week’s graduation.
Meanwhile, police used pepper spray Wednesday to clear a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University. Police have so far arrested more than 2,000 people at college campuses across the U.S.
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