UCSD protesters pitch camp in nationwide movement for Palestinian life

University of California San Diego became one of the latest campuses to have encampments form in solidarity with student movements across the country protesting the Israel-Hamas war and calling on universities to divest from Israel.

Wednesday on the university’s La Jolla campus, protesters hammered stakes into the earth and strung black tarps on them to serve as a perimeter for protection. Meanwhile, university officials nationwide had already brought in police to shut down similar camps.

As of Thursday, there have been more than 2,100 protest-related arrests at more than 60 college campuses nationwide, according to an NBC News tally. But no arrests had been made at UCSD, according to a spokesperson.

“Columbia University was completely raided this morning and their entire encampment is gone,” said Faze Ali, a UCSD student protester at the encampment. “When one burns down another rises from the ashes,”

From noon Wednesday to after midnight, hundreds of protesters gathered peacefully on the west lawn of Library Walk near Geisel Library. They called on the university to stop investing their tax dollars in entities they say support Israel’s ongoing siege in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands of civilians.

The camp was organized by a coalition of groups including the UCSDivest Coalition, Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Students for Justice in Palestine. They are asking that students not be punished for peaceful protest and  calling on the university to “divest … financial holdings from weapons manufacturers and companies that enable and profit from Israeli apartheid, occupation, and genocide,” the coalition posted on social media.

The group’s other demands include severing institutional ties to Israel such as research partnerships with the Israeli Defense Ministry, private contractors and the U.S. Department of Defense.

Asked about the university’s investments and the group’s demands, a UCSD spokesperson referred inewsource to a statement.

The University of California “has consistently opposed calls for boycott against and divestment from Israel,” a statement from the university’s Office of the President said. “While the University affirms the right of our community members to express diverse viewpoints, a boycott of this sort impinges on the academic freedom of our students and faculty and the unfettered exchange of ideas on our campuses.”

A coalition of faculty members has also assembled in support of the protesters.

“I am here first and foremost because I want to stand with the students who are saying that genocide is not okay,” said Leslie Meyer, a UCSD faculty member.

On Oct. 7, Hamas militants stormed Israeli towns, killing around 1,200 civilians and taking more than  250 hostages, according to Israeli officials. Israel responded with a military siege in Gaza that has killed more than 34,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 77,700, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Despite the United Nations’ demand for immediate ceasefire, Israel continues plans for a ground offensive in Rafah.

Protests against Israel’s invasion of Gaza have been taking place all around the world, and recently escalated in the U.S. when students at Columbia University in New York City started an encampment on April 17. That encampment has since inspired several across the country. On Tuesday, police in riot gear broke apart protests, using an armored vehicle to enter a campus building protesters were occupying and arrested over 300 protesters.

As the rally in San Diego carried on into early Thursday morning, Los Angeles and UCLA campus police in riot gear shut down the encampment in front of Royce Hall, using rubber bullets and flash bangs, arresting more than 200 people. The night before, when counterprotesters attacked them with metal rods, tear gas and fireworks, police did not intervene for hours, according to several media reports.

Protesters at UCSD said that is one of the many reasons they felt compelled to respond.

“We need to use our voices to amplify the people that have had their voices stolen from them,” said Andrea Ramos, a San Diego City College student who came out in support of the action.

Students have also set up encampments at UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara.

All twelve universities in Gaza have been destroyed or damaged and closed. Protesters say that is one of the many reasons they feel compelled to speak out.

“Students are the heart of every social movement,” Ali said.

UCSD Chancellor Pradeep Khosla issued a statement Wednesday, just minutes after the encampment began, saying that even though the university supports the right to peaceful protest, tents violate campus policy:

“Our focus remains squarely on maintaining a safe campus environment free from discrimination and harassment and continuing the operation of our academic mission without disruption. We implore all campus community members to treat each other with dignity and respect,” Khosla said.

“We remind all students, faculty and staff that sanctions for violating university policy and/or the law can include interim suspension, suspension, dismissal or legal action.”

Several hundred people gathered over the afternoon and remained in front of the encampment until after midnight in anticipation of police presence. The protest wove between chants, moments of prayer, speeches and at one point a session of dancing led by the renowned activist Linda Sarsour, a key organizer of the 2017 and 2019 women’s marches.

“I remind your administrators that you stand in a long tradition of student activism that ended the Vietnam War. That ended South African apartheid. And that universities who divested from South Africa can also divest from the State of Israel,” Sarsour said.

In 1986 UC campuses divested $3.1 billion in response to South African apartheid, following student protests and demands.

“I promise you 20 years from now you’re gonna be right,” Sarsour said. “And your school will probably put you on a page on their website and talk about the incredible student activism of 2024.”

UCSD police were present but kept a distance Wednesday and Thursday.

“It’s really unfortunate to see what other campuses have been enduring,” said Subrein Manhoury, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement. “We’re hoping that it doesn’t escalate to that. We’re hoping that the administration doesn’t take it to that.”

Another event could bring crowds to campus this weekend. A music festival is scheduled to take place there on Saturday.

Officials at UCSD say they are monitoring the situation.

Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect that the concert was canceled.