Protesters gathered and chanted in support of Palestine on Sunday evening at the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland.
Police from several agencies including the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, city of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania State Police were at the scene.
Two demonstrations in Oakland converged on the cathedral’s lawn, said Jared Stonesifer, senior director of external communications for the university.
“The group of demonstrators quickly erected wooden barricades and fencing, and other structures with tents inside before our public safety team could intervene, stating their intent to reestablish the Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” he said in a statement issued shortly after midnight.
The encampment was strictly taking place on private campus property, a Pittsburgh police spokeswoman said.
“Pittsburgh Police officers are closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of everyone,” the spokeswoman said, directing any further questions to the university.
The activity in Oakland was apparently a renewed effort related to demands that universities cut financial ties to Israel because of the Israel-Hamas war.
An organization identifying itself as Pitt Divest and describing the group as representing students, faculty, staff, and community members of the University of Pittsburgh announced Sunday evening that an encampment had been re-established on the campus grounds.
“Today the campus is reclaimed in the name of the liberation of Palestine from the river to the sea,” the statement said.
More than 100 protesters were on each side of a wire barricade the protesters had placed on the Cathedral of Learning grounds.
About 8:40 p.m. police detained an individual who was attempting to bring water and food to the protesters. Chuck Finder, Pitt senior director of media relations, said a police officer was struck by a protester during the altercation. The protester was arrested by university police. That person was not affiliated with the university, Finder said.
Donald Johnson, 33, of Pittsburgh was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and obstruction, Stonesifer said.
Protestors chanting “Cease fire now” are outside the Cathedral of Learning at the University of Pittsburgh. Now hearing “Hands off Gaza.” pic.twitter.com/FZ7yJDS7EB
— Brian Rittmeyer (@BCRittmeyer) June 2, 2024
The protesters had an extended presence the last week of April at Schenley Plaza and later on the William Pitt Student Union grounds on the Pitt campus.
A post generated on the X social media platform called for a presence at the campus in support of protesters Sunday afternoon.
Breaking: PITT Encampment just announced. If you can head over to the cathedral of learning please do to minimize arrest and harm to students. Thank you. (Alt text Breaking Gaza solidarity encampment reestablished. Revolt4Rafah with an image of the cathedral) pic.twitter.com/vPjQRcNAKI
— Miracle. ESQ. MSW. (@Miuji*zaMMilagro) June 2, 2024
The statement from Pitt Divest said, “The encampment has been re-established on university property to send a clear message to Chancellor Joan Gabel, Board of Trustees Chair Louis R. Cestello, Chief Investment Officer Jeffer Choudhry and the rest of senior administration and the Board.
“Our community does not support and is not represented by a parasitic administration which rests in its complicity in genocide. Student Government Board and many faculty have publicly called for the university to take action. Escalation will continue until the University upholds its purported commitment to justice and equity.”
The statement included a list of demands related to University of Pittsburgh investments and research partnerships as well as speakers at university events. In addition the statement said the university must “demilitarize the campus police force,” publicize the university police department’s record of arrests and citations, terminate officers with a record of racial bias and excessive force and sever ties with the city of Pittsburgh police department.
“We will not rest until the university has acceded to our demands and addressed its ongoing complicity in the genocide and oppression of Palestinians,” the statement said.
Finder said the protesters did not have a permit for the presence on the Cathedral of Learning grounds. He said the university lists its expectations for conduct at protests on its website at freespeech.pitt.edu.
The protest on the Pitt campus in April was part of a broader protest presence on college campuses across the country.
Dozens of students protesting the war in Gaza walked out of the University of Chicago’s commencement Saturday as the school withheld the diplomas of four seniors over their involvement with a pro-Palestinian encampment.
Students have walked out of commencements at Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and others as protest camps have sprung up across the U.S. and in Europe in recent weeks. Students have demanded their universities stop doing business with Israel or companies they say support its war in Gaza. Organizers seek to amplify calls to end Israel’s war with Hamas, which they describe as a genocide against the Palestinians.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a TribLive reporter covering news in New Kensington, Arnold and Plum. A Pittsburgh native and graduate of Penn State University's Schreyer Honors College, Brian has been with the Trib since December 2000. He can be reached at brittmeyer@triblive.com.
