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Emory University is entering its fifth day of protests since law enforcement officers closed in on pro-Palestine protestors hosting an encampment on the Quadrangle, ultimately arresting 28 demonstrators. The decision to arrest the protestors has sparked controversy both on and off campus, with members of the Emory community calling for the resignation of University President Gregory Fenves and national media outlets covering the arrests.
Today’s first protest, a faculty and staff “walkout and speak-out,” came about an hour after Fenves sent an email to the Emory community this morning, retracting his earlier statement that most of the arrested protestors were not affiliated with the University.
This morning also saw the detainment of over a dozen protestors during a “Gaza solidarity encampment” on the University of Georgia’s campus.
5:10 p.m.
Multiple professors have altered their plans for final exams. Finals in sections of classes such as Math 111: “Calculus I,” POLS_OX 208Q: “Research Design Methods” and REL_OX 205QW: “Biblical Literature” are now optional, while finals for some sections in courses like ENGRD 211RW: “Advanced Writing Workshop,” PHIL 220: “History of Political Philosophy” and REL 270: “Special Topics in Religion” are canceled.
There are about 100 people remaining on the Quad.
— Jack Rutherford
4:10 p.m.
About 25 protestors are practicing linking arms and walking forward. Demonstrators used a similar strategy when law enforcement officers arrived on the Emory University Quadrangle shortly after midnight on April 27. The group had formed a circle around the flagpole on the Quad as police officers arrived, directing the protestors to leave the quad. The demonstrators decided to keep their arms linked together as they slowly moved off the Quad and to Asbury Circle.
A group of 100 demonstrators have been sitting on the Quad for nearly the past three hours, singing songs and conversing. During this time, an Emory student walked across the Quad and yelled “Free the hostages” in reference to the Israeli people being held hostage by Hamas.
— Madi Olivier and Spencer Friedland
2:39 p.m.
A representative of University administration arrived to accept the list of demands. The protestors’ demands include amnesty for those arrested, an apology for calling the Atlanta Police Department and Georgia State Patrol and University President Gregory Fenves’ resignation. No work will be done until those demands are met, speakers said. In total, 104 student workers signed the demands.
After reading the letter, the crowd chanted “Fire Fenves.”
— Jack Rutherford
2:32 p.m.
Protestors gathered outside Convocation Hall, waiting for a representative from University administration to come and receive their list of demands. Protestors vowed to stay until the representative came.
A new camera tower has appeared on top of Goodrich C. White Hall, with three security cameras on top of a slightly crooked pole. It is unknown who erected it.
— Jack Rutherford
2:23 p.m.
Protestors arrived at Convocation Hall, stating they plan to deliver a list of demands to University President Gregory Fenves on behalf of student employees.
— Spencer Friedland
2:18 p.m.
Protestors began marching to Convocation Hall. Organizers announced that they will be delivering a list of demands to University administration.
— Spencer Friedland
2:00 p.m.
About 300 protestors began chanting slogans in Asbury Circle, including “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” and “There is only one solution, intifada revolution,” to kick off the student worker rally. A student speaker who said they were hit by irritant gas during the encampment on Thursday morning called for Emory University to fire University President Gregory Fenves.
— Spencer Friedland
1:15 p.m.
A student organizer delivered a speech about the student worker labor stoppage, outlining a list of demands for University administration.
“We urge each Emory faculty to boycott … demanding disciplinary amnesty, canceling all remaining exams and assignments … submitting A’s for all students,” the speaker said.
Formal programming has now ended, and music is playing at Asbury Circle as attendees mill about. An organizer announced there will be a student worker rally at 2 p.m. at Asbury Circle, followed by a 2:30 p.m. demonstration on the Quad.
— Jack Rutherford and Sarah Davis
12:40 p.m.
A faculty speaker began chants of “Vote him out” in reference to the pending Emory College of Arts and Sciences faculty vote on confidence in University President Gregory Fenves.
The Emory College Senate voted on April 26 to send out an electronic ballot to faculty this week. The Senate meeting garnered over 370 faculty members, including 170 in person and others over Zoom, according to an email sent to members and students of the sociology department.
— Spencer Friedland and Madi Olivier
12:16 p.m.
Demonstrators and roughly 70 faculty assembled in Asbury Circle, briefly chanting “Hands off our students” before speeches began. An organizer spoke first, beginning with a poem by June Jordan entitled “Intifada Incantation.”
After their speech, the crowd chanted “Who keeps us safe? We keep us safe!” About 200 people gathered in Asbury Circle by 12:16 p.m.
— Jack Rutherford
11:55 a.m.
About 15 faculty members gathered in Asbury Circle for a faculty and staff “walkout and speak-out” scheduled for 12 p.m. Emory Students for Justice in Palestine and Emory faculty sponsored the event with the tagline “Hands off our students,” referring to the detainment of 28 pro-Palestine protestors during an encampment on the Quad last week.
Many faculty members have taken a stand against the decision to arrest protestors, joining other Emory community members in the subsequent protests. Shortly after midnight on April 27, a line of faculty members stood between police officers and students when law enforcement arrived on campus to tell protestors they needed to vacate the Quad.
— Spencer Friedland
