MINNEAPOLIS — After spending days protesting and living in tents on the front lawn of the University of Minnesota, demonstrators met with the university's interim president Wednesday morning to discuss their demands to support the people of Palestine.
The meeting, originally scheduled for a half-hour, lasted nearly two hours; however, following the meeting, those involved did not publicly discuss any outcomes.
"We had a very constructive dialogue this morning," University of Minnesota Interim President Jeff Ettinger told KARE 11 after the meeting. "Both groups are going to ... go back and talk to other folks and there will be more news on it later."
"I feel like it was a respectful environment," Omar Aly told KARE 11.
"It was open dialogue," said Merlin Van Alstine. "We're ready to move forward and find things that we can talk about and concrete plans for both us and them, but nothing was fully agreed upon in there. These are continuing conversations."
The protest representatives said they planned to debrief fellow protest participants, but said the encampment was not shutting down yet.
"We're excited to bring back what we learned," Van Alstine said.
The meeting between protesters and administration was scheduled to include representatives from the following student groups: Students for Justice in Palestine, Students for a Democratic Society, Young Democratic Socialists of America and Students for Climate Justice.
The university closed a dozen buildings surrounding the protesters' encampment for three days this week, meaning students couldn't access the popular Coffman Student Union and Walter Library even as finals begin on Thursday.
Following the meeting, Ettinger confirmed to KARE 11 that all upcoming graduation activities will continue as planned.
"We have been trying to communicate to parents, students and others in the community that we plan to proceed with all the different commencement activities," Ettinger said.
Group leaders posted on social media that police have been at the encampment issuing calls for dispersal but say no students have been arrested since April 23, when six students and one faculty member were taken into custody for trespassing.
The UMN Divest Coalition, comprising these four student groups along with additional student and community support, listed six demands for university administrators:
- DIVEST: Divest from all companies complicit in war crimes, genocide and human rights violations - including Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and others.
- BAN: Ban Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, General Dynamics and their subsidiaries from hosting workshops and recruiting on campus starting with Fall 2024 Career Fair.
- BOYCOTT: Complete academic divestment from militarized Israeli institutions that are currently aiding the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
- DISCLOSE: Complete transparency with students, staff and faculty about University investments and spending.
- THAWABIT: Release a statement in support of UMN’s Palestinian student body and recognize the inviolable national rights of the Palestinian people, the Thawabit.
- AMNESTY: Amnesty for all students, staff, community, and faculty in the movement for Palestinian liberation.
As for the future of the encampment, attorneys told KARE 11 that the First Amendment does protect students' right to free speech and gathering, as long as demonstrations remain peaceful. However, the university can impose a ban on camping if it's upheld for all groups, although legal sources say the ban is shaky.
"To just say across the board, no, you cannot protest in this place that has historically been a place for students gathering in protest is problematic, unless they're engaging in otherwise illegal behavior," law professor Jane Kirtley told KARE 11.
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