An occupation of Siemens Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt that began Monday is underway. Every entrance to the constructing was barricaded Tuesday morning after activists successfully stopped a line of police in riot gear from evacuating students the previous evening. According to the university, three were arrested on the scene, where tons of of demonstrators eventually gathered.
Cal Poly Humboldt estimates there are dozens of scholars still within the constructing.
Activists said Tuesday the constructing was chosen since the administration works there. The occupation is asking on the university to divest from firms that sell weapons to Israel. They are collaborating in some activities at US universities this week.
“They will not leave the university or move until it is completely separated from Israel,” said Jasmine Jolly, who helped coordinate breakfast outside the constructing on Tuesday morning. The Times-Standard was not allowed access contained in the constructing.
The demonstrators began the motion on Monday around 5 p.m. A university press release said classes there have been canceled and courses that were in session on the time of the occupation were evacuated. The constructing was closed after protesters refused to depart the constructing voluntarily.
Police presence from various agencies in the world increased throughout the day. It is unclear what number of law enforcement officials ultimately arrived on campus. Eyewitnesses estimated dozens of officers. A bunch of police equipped with riot gear attempted to enter the constructing but were blocked by plenty of activists.
“In the end, two students stood in a queue in front of the police. They finally said we want to go. “Could you please let us out?” said Jolly, who said the protesters gave police a path to depart.
According to Cal Poly Humboldt, all law enforcement officials left Monday evening around 11:30 p.m.
RELATED: Pro-Palestinian protesters arrange tents on UC Berkeley campus, vowing to stay there until the university divests itself from firms that do business with Israel
The university announced Monday evening that the campus would remain closed until Wednesday for safety reasons and that some courses would proceed to happen online. The university cited demonstrators who barricaded themselves within the constructing as the rationale.
“Several protesters inside the building barricaded themselves with furniture, destroyed portions of the building, and blocked entrances and elevators with tents, violating fire codes and posing extreme safety risks to those inside,” a press release said Monday evening.
It is unclear how many individuals were injured in clashes between police and residents of the constructing.
Students surrounding the constructing celebrated Tuesday's occupation of a constructing as a part of the protest movement, which has led to actions at universities including Yale, Ann Arbor in Michigan, Columbia and New York.
The Associated Press reports the deaths of greater than 34,000 Palestinians within the Gaza Strip within the Hamas-Israel war following a Hamas attack in Israel on October 7, sparking a humanitarian crisis as Israel's bombardment of civilians continues.
The Cal Poly Humboldt Police Department declined to reply questions on Monday, saying questions must be sent to the university's marketing and communications department. Phone calls and email questions went unanswered before the Times-Standard went to press.
Cal Poly Humboldt called the situation dangerous in a news release and warned people to remain away. Activists who spoke to the Times-Standard said police sparked the violence.
“When the police were here, tensions were so high and so they were so aggressive. They attacked students. They carried a lady out by her legs and arms. Their presence created a really indignant, hostile atmosphere. And this morning there's no police, just numerous people sitting around drinking coffee and talking about what's happening in Palestine,” Greg Bee said outside the constructing on Tuesday.
An Instagram post from Humboldt for Palestine, which states that they didn’t organize the occupation but moderately that it was an “organic CPH student organizing movement,” said that the scholars usually are not negotiating until the divestment occurs. The post said the scholars had further demands.
A Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine flag hung above the constructing's sign on Tuesday. “Stop the Genocide” and “Free from the River Palestine to the Sea” were spray-painted on the Theater Arts constructing.
Jolly noted that local activists have tried other methods, comparable to a ceasefire resolution passed by the Arcata City Council and attempting to get Eureka to pass the same resolution, in addition to weekly protests outside the courthouse.
Sage Alexander could be reached at 707-441-0504
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