MINNEAPOLIS — Eleven people were arrested during a protest in support of Palestine on the University of Minnesota campus Monday afternoon.
Doors to Merrill Hall were barricaded as people gathered outside the front door. Multiple Palestinian flags were being flown outside the hall. A large sign held in front of the doors said "Money for education not for bombs and occupation." A Palestine flag was also placed on the building's roof.
Protesters demanded academic and economic divestment from Israel.
Officials with the University of Minnesota urged people to avoid the area around Morrill Hall after protestors entered the building and started damaging property, according to an alert sent to students.
There were 11 people arrested, according to officials with U of M. Damage included spray paint in the building and windows being broken. Officials told media they are continuing to investigate.
The full statement from U of M is below:
Protesters assembled on the lawn in front of Coffman Memorial Union starting around 3 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024. Shortly before 4 p.m., a group of these individuals quickly moved north, up the Northrop Mall, and entered Morrill Hall.
Once inside the building, protesters began spray painting, including covering lenses of all internal security cameras, breaking interior windows, and barricading the building’s entrance and exit points. The full extent of the damage is unknown. A number of staff were working in the building at the time, and several people were not able to exit, with some being unable to exit the building for an extended period of time.
To ensure the safety of U of M employees in the building who were unable to exit, and in light of property damage sustained to the building, University of Minnesota Police Department was called to the scene to address the situation.