CLEVELAND — Case Western Reserve University students protesting the treatment of Palestinian civilians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war have chosen to end their encampment on campus, 3News has confirmed.
An organizer of the protest told us the setup at the KSL Oval on Euclid Avenue is currently being torn down since the spring semester is ending this week and students will be going home. However, he adds the students' campaign in favor of Palestine will continue.
"We are determined to continue our advocacy through all available means," said a spokesperson for the student protesters. "Our commitment to justice and peace is stronger than ever, and we believe in the power of sustained, peaceful protest to effect meaningful change."
The ordeal began on April 29, when CWRU students, faculty, and others headed to the oval and vowed to protest until the university "meets their demands to divest from the state of Israel." Twenty of the initial protestors were detained and released, but no arrests were made.
The group later published a list of demands, and Case eventually allowed demonstrators to remain in the space overnight as long as they presented valid student or employee identification. However, three days later, administrators declared the protest was "no longer approved," claiming organizers had violated guidelines by "permitting third parties not currently affiliated with CWRU to remain on campus outside of predetermined hours."
Despite saying the protestors were now "trespassing," the school made no effort to forcibly remove them from the premises, and declared that would not be done unless things became violent. That never happened, although tensions did rise this past Wednesday when organizers publisher a video showing third-party contracted workers spraying students with paint in front of the "spirit wall" near the Thwing Center.
"Let me be clear: No students — or any individuals — should ever be treated this way, especially on a campus where our core values center on providing a safe, welcoming environment," Case Western Reserve President Eric Kaler declared. "This is not who we are as an institution, and I am deeply sorry this ever occurred."
Though he condemned the actions of the painters, Kaler did claim protestors had written "language the university administration and many members of our community view as threatening" on the wall, a charge protest organizer and CWRU senior Jad Oglesby denied. The university has not yet publicly commented on the ending of the encampment.
Also on Wednesday, protestors marched through campus to declare a lack of confidence in Kaler's leadership. On Thursday, Palestine Task Force Cle reported CWRU's student body voted in favor of a resolution supporting "full university divestment from the Israeli military," with group leaders also chastising Kaler for not meeting with pro-Palestinian students.
Meanwhile, Case Western Reserve has declared its spring commencement ceremony will take place as scheduled this coming Wednesday, albeit with extra security measures in place.
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry says more than 34,000 Palestinians have died since the outbreak of the war, though that number doesn’t officially distinguish between militants and civilians. The conflict began last Oct. 7 when Hamas militants launched an attack on southern Israel, leaving nearly 1,200 people (mostly civilians) dead.