Pro-Palestinian protestors set up encampment, face counter-protestors as demonstrations continue into 7th day

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Emory University is entering its seventh day of protests since law enforcement officers broke up a pro-Palestine encampment on the Quadrangle, ultimately arresting 28 demonstrators. The decision to arrest the protestors has sparked controversy on and off campus, with members of the Emory community calling for the resignation of University President Gregory Fenves and media outlets covering the arrests and their aftermath. Yesterday, the Oxford College Student Government Association passed a resolution calling for Fenves’ removal as president. 

Earlier this week, the Emory Police Department (EPD) arrested Derek Zika, a convicted felon, on the Quad during a pro-Palestine protest. Zika, who is not affiliated with Emory, was carrying knives and pepper spray when EPD arrested him. EPD also issued criminal trespass warnings to non-Emory affiliated individuals for their suspected involvement in spray-painting messages on University buildings on Saturday. 

9:50 p.m. 

About 20 pro-Palestine protestors remain on the Quad with open expression observers watching from Convocation Hall. The protestors are sitting and mingling. 

— Alex Gerson

8:15 p.m.

A Jewish pro-Palestinian student began speaking from inside the encampment on the Quad.

“I don’t want my family, my culture, my heritage tied to an imperialist regime,” she said. “I understand that all Jewish students are suffering.”

After the student stopped speaking, an Emory Students for Justice in Palestine organizer said EPD has “left [them] alone.” EPD and campus security officers stood by the Administration Building, watching the pro-Palestinian demonstration unfold on the Quad.

Open expression observers requested that the protestors take down the tents, as they are in violation of the University’s Respect for Open Expression Policy. Protestors complied, taking down the encampment and wooden signs to take a break and eat dinner while sitting on the Quad.

— Madeline Shapiro and Spencer Friedland

7:40 p.m.

The demonstrators, who continued standing in a circle around the encampment, chanted “There is only one solution. Intifada revolution,” as the counter-protestors booed them. However, the demonstrators clapped as they continued to yell chants, including “Columbia first, Emory next, all schools must divest” and “We want justice. You say, ‘How?’ Stop bombing Gaza now.”

— Madeline Shapiro

7:30 p.m.

An open expression observer announced that the period of open expression was over around 7:10 p.m. Emory Police Department officers arrived and stood outside the Oxford Road Building encampment, and faculty members formed a line between the police and protestors. A speaker then announced that the protestors were going to march again, chanting “APD, KKK, IOF you’re all the same.”

The protestors marched while carrying the tents, chanting “Free, free Palestine. Long live Palestine.” The faculty members continued to form a barrier between the protestors as they walked back toward the Quad.

A small group of counter-protestors, who were previously standing outside the encampment, yelled at the marching demonstrators. A man wearing an Israeli flag yelled “Free the hostages,” but open expression observers blocked him from moving toward the protestors. 

The pro-Palestine protestors set up their tents on the Quad and formed a circle with signs while continuing to chant, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “Disclose, divest, we will not stop. We will not rest.” Some of the protestors linked arms to form a circle around their encampment as the counter-protestors continued to stand near them. 

Other counter-protests held signs that read “Altanta stands with Israel” and “You cannot be pro Hamas and claim any mortality or virtue.”

“It’s a bunch of misguided kids [who] don’t really know anything about the situation,” said Josh Wycoff, one of the counter-protestors holding a sign. “They’re just here with their separate grievances.” 

A Georgia Department of Public Safety helicopter also flew over the Quad as the protestors claimed the area.

— Madeline Shapiro

7:03 p.m.

The crowd continued singing and mingling for about 20 minutes at the Jewish Solidarity Assembly before most attendees left Asbury Circle. About 30 people are still gathered at the circle

— Alex Gerson

6:21 p.m.

Chabad at Emory Rabbi Zalman Lipskier led the crowd in a recitation of the Shema and other prayers. The crowd then formed a large circle and sang a Jewish prayer called Oseh Shalom, “One Day” by Matisyahu and the “The Star-Spangled Banner,” which is the national anthem of the United States. 

Ditza Israeli, who made the “Bring Them Home Now” banner displayed on Asbury Circle, said she made the banner “with a broken heart” after the events of Oct. 7, 2023. She added that she wanted to support Jewish students at Emory.

— Alex Gerson

6:19 p.m. 

While members of the Emory community participated in the Jewish Solidarity Assembly at Asbury Circle, pro-Palestinian protestors began to slowly disperse from the encampment less than half a mile away outside the Oxford Road Building. The remaining protestors continued to sit outside the building, listening to music. 

— Madeline Shapiro

6:15 p.m.

Around 100 people gathered on Asbury Circle for a Jewish Solidarity Assembly starting at 6:15 p.m. A large tapestry that says “Bring Them Home Now” laid along the side of the circle, referring to the Israeli hostages currently being held by Hamas.

Meor at Emory, Chabad at Emory and Emory Hillel organized the event. 

— Alex Gerson

5:37 p.m.

After quietly discussing the situation, demonstrators reinforced the wall of wooden signs in front of the Oxford Road Building with metal chairs and tables. About 50 protestors remain outside the building. The group returned to conversing with each other quietly after moving the metal furniture.

— Spencer Friedland

5:02 p.m.

Open Expression Programs Interim Director Lisa Loveall told an Emory Wheel reporter on the scene that the situation is currently under their purview, despite the speaker’s earlier claim that Emory Police Department officers are on their way.

— Spencer Friedland

4:55 p.m.

A speaker announced to the crowd of about 50 protestors outside the Oxford Road Building that they were informed Emory Police Department officers are on their way. Faculty members are among the crowd, holding signs that say “Hands off our students.”

— Madi Olivier and Spencer Friedland

4:50 p.m.

About five Emory Police Department officers are standing by the Administration Building.

A protestor announced to the crowd that they can either negotiate with open expression observers or re-start the encampment.

“We can defend this place,” the speaker said. “It’s time to stop negotiating with open expression.”

— Spencer Friedland

4:45 p.m.

Two pro-Palestinian protestors erected a tent outside the entrance to the Oxford Road Building after being told to vacate the building. About 10 other protestors holding wooden signs gathered around the tent. 

While the protestors sent up the tent, the group yelled chants such as, “Fenves, Fenves, you’re a liar, we demand a ceasefire” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

The protestors set up two more tents in front of the Oxford Road Building at about 4:37 p.m., before erecting another two at 4:41 p.m., bringing the total number of tents to five. Additionally, protestors added barricades to the building to prevent the doors from opening.

— Spencer Friedland

4:26 p.m.

About 10 protestors remained in the Oxford Road Building after it officially closed at 4:20 p.m. Open expression observers instructed the protestors to leave the building, but the group did not comply, prompting Emory Police Department officers to tell the demonstrators to leave. However, the protestors requested that a member of University administration tell them to leave. One protestor further requested that University President Gregory Fenves personally tell the group to vacate the building.

The protestors ultimately left at 4:25 p.m. after Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Belonging, Engagement and Community Kristina Bethea Odejimi left the locked bookstore to speak to the demonstrators in the lobby, requesting that they leave.

— Madi Olivier and Spencer Friedland

4:08 p.m.

Open expression observers announced that the Oxford Road Building will close at 4:20 p.m. A group of about 10 protestors remain inside the building. Dean of Students and Associate Vice President for Belonging, Engagement and Community Kristina Bethea Odejimi, Emory Police Department officers and campus security officers are inside the bookstore, which is currently locked. 

— Jack Rutherford

4:00 p.m.

The DeKalb County Police Department bomb squad vehicle left the scene. Traffic resumed on North Decatur Road as law enforcement vehicles began to depart.

The University sent a notification that the “emergency” at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church was lifted at 4:02 p.m.

— Madi Olivier

3:40 p.m.

A DeKalb County Police Department bomb squad vehicle arrived outside the Bank of America in Emory Village after a suspicious bag was reported in the area, according to Assistant Vice President of University Communications Laura Diamond. Law enforcement shut down traffic along North Decatur Road in Emory Village.

Emory sent a communication to the University community about a “police emergency” at  Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church shortly after 3:30 p.m. DeKalb County Police Department officers declined to confirm the presence of a threat to a Wheel reporter on the scene.

Diamond stated that no more information is available at this time. It is unclear if the situation is related to the ongoing pro-Palestine demonstration.

— Madi Olivier

3:30 p.m

Protestors marched down the road by the Administration Building and Boisfeuillet Jones Center, heading to the Oxford Road Building. Protestors linked their arms and stood in a group on the brick walkway between the Oxford Road Building and Boisfeuillet Jones Center, continuing to chant. 

A speaker announced that protestors were going to walk into the Oxford Road Building, where the Barnes & Noble and Office of Undergraduate Admission are located. Then speakers turned around and entered the building, chanting in the lobby outside the entrance to the bookstore. Some protestors remained outside, placing signs along the entrance doors.

— Madeline Shapiro

3:20 p.m.

Protestors began to give more speeches on the Quad. A speaker called on the students to “refuse to complete finals” in solidarity for universities in Gaza that are currently being disrupted by the war. 

The speaker then announced that the group was going to march to take back campus, prompting protestors to line up with signs to prepare to leave the Quad.

— Madeline Shapiro

2:25 p.m.

Senior Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education Joanne Brzinski sent an email to Emory College of Arts and Sciences students telling them that most campus buildings will continue to close at 7 p.m., except for first floor classrooms in Candler Library, second floor classrooms in the Psychology and Interdisciplinary Sciences Building, second and third floor classrooms in the Math and Science Center and the lobby and classrooms in White Hall, which will close at 10 p.m. The Emory Student Center and Alumni Memorial University Center will remain open 24 hours. All buildings will continue to require an EmoryCard ID for access.

— Alex Gerson

 

2:07 p.m.

Protestors have entered the Quad chanting “Ceasefire is our demand, no peace on stolen land.” A student who was arrested on Thursday is now speaking to the crowd. He called for University Senate Committee for Open Expression Chair Ilya Nemenman to step down.

— Alex Gerson

 

2:01 p.m.

The protestors have begun marching to the Quad through the Haygood-Hopkins gate. The crowd has grown to around 50 protestors.

— Alex Gerson

 

1:30 p.m.

The first speaker at the protest asks for Emory University to divest from Israel and Israeli companies as well as grant amnesty to student protestors. They added that “there is power in our solidarity.”

A driver also gave the protestors the middle-finger as they passed by the protest. 

— Alex Gerson

 

1:27 p.m.

Many cars passing by are honking their horns in support of the protest. Protestors’ chants have included “Columbia first, Emory next, all schools must divest.”

Additionally, protestors have announced that they will be marching toward the Quad shortly. 

— Alex Gerson

 

1:09 p.m. 

Protestors have started chanting and holding up pro-Palestine signs. The protest in Emory Village was organized by Emory Students for Socialism.

— Alex Gerson 

1:00 p.m. 

There are three DeKalb County Police Department cars in Emory Village, where around 20 protestors are standing outside of the Haygood-Hopkins gate. 

— Alex Gerson

 

12:44 p.m.

EPD issued criminal trespass warnings to three protestors on the Quadrangle, who have since departed. It is unclear whether these protestors are affiliated with Emory. 

— Jack Rutherford