Pro-Palestinian protesters rush back into MIT encampment, block traffic on Mass. Ave.
CAMBRIDGE - Pro-Palestinian protesters broke through barriers at MIT hours after a deadline to leave an encampment on campus Monday evening. Protesters also blocked traffic on Mass. Ave., calling for MIT to divest from Israeli investments. The university wants the encampment space on Kresge lawn to be cleared ahead of commencement.
Many students had left the encampment by the deadline set by the university. MIT President Sally Kornbluth ordered the protesters to clear the lawn by 2:30 Monday afternoon saying, "unilaterally taking over a central portion of our campus for one side of a hotly disputed issue and precluding use by other members of our community is not right. This situation is inherently highly unstable."
Kornbluth said five students remained in the enclosed tent area after the deadline but the fence was breached "following the arrival of demonstrators from outside MIT." Approximately 150 students and others formed a circle around the tents that have been up for two weeks.
MIT said there were no arrests made by police on campus Monday, and the protesters who left the encampment did so on their own.
"We have much work still to do to resolve the situation, and will continue to communicate as needed," Kornbluth said Monday night.
MIT students face disciplinary action
Students who didn't leave could face disciplinary actions, including suspension.
"If it comes down to that, I think a lot of us here are firm in our belief that we no longer want to stand by as our university is complicit in the murder of over 40,000 people in Gaza," said MIT student Sam Ihns.
These protesters have been asking MIT to divest from Israeli tied business, including research done for the Israeli Defense Forces. Students say they are prepared for what comes next.
"What happens next is purely the decision of the MIT administration," Ihns said.
Group blocks Mass. Ave. during evening commute
Just across the quad, another group of protesters tried to make their way into the MIT School of Engineering. They were turned around by police and set up shop in the middle of Mass. Ave. during the height of the evening commute. The group consisted mostly of high schoolers and public school teachers from across the state.
"We are here to show our support for student encampments and to demand that universities listen to their student's demands," said 16-year-old Alma Shawar of Lexington.
There was a small group of pro-Israel protesters. They were surrounded by Cambridge and MIT police, but severely outnumbered by those on the other side.
"I don't hear any words coming from people over here talking about what caused this particular round of the war in the first place," said Annie, a pro-Israel protester. "Which was Hamas breaking the ceasefire, slaughtering, burning, raping entire Israeli communities and kidnapping hundreds of men, women, children, and continuing to hold them hostage."
Jewish students were warned by some faculty to avoid the area Monday for their safety. The protesters said they were unsure if they would be staying in the tents overnight.
