Pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the Institute of Politics building on South Woodlawn Avenue.
This article will be updated as the situation develops.
May 17th, 7:24pm
IOP Public Affairs Director Coran Addo said: maroon Institute director and former U.S. senator Heidi Heitkamp said she spoke with protesters for 20 minutes before UCPD removed her from the building.
“It was a sign of respect,” Addo said. “She was never coerced or held against her will. She eventually left the building and police cleared it.”
When Heitkamp asked the demonstrators why they were occupying the IOP, a nonpartisan institution, the demonstrators responded, “Everyone has to choose a side.”
— Maroon Staff
May 17th 7:17pm
In a statement to maroonthe university announced that protesters had illegally occupied buildings and destroyed property.
“On Friday at approximately 4:40 p.m., a group of masked protesters illegally occupied the Institute of Politics building on South Woodlawn Avenue at the University of Chicago,” the university said in a statement. “Protesters attempted to block entrances, damaged university property, and ignored instructions from UCPD officers to clear the way. UCPD officers were able to enter the building and protestors inside the building went out.”
“The University of Chicago is fundamentally committed to defending the rights of protesters to express a wide range of opinions. At the same time, the University policy “Please be clear that protests do not endanger public safety, disrupt university operations, or involve destruction of property,” the university added.
Protesters have set up tents in the IOP’s backyard.
— maroon staff
May 17th 7:10pm
Protesters hung a portrait of university president Paul Alivisatos with blood on his hands from a tree with a rope.
Demonstrators gathered in front of Neubauer, chanting, “No justice, no peace.” Approximately 12 CPD officers line the street in front of Neubauer.
— maroon staff
May 17th 7pm
Two UCPD officers briefly pursued the suspected assailant on foot, who spray-painted “ACAB”, an acronym for the slogan “All Cops Are Bastards,” on the front of a UCPD Segway. Officers then spoke with the Iron Key brothers who witnessed the act.
UCPD officers are trying to identify the person responsible for the spray paint.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:54pm
In an X post around 6:45 p.m., Chicago Jews for a Free Palestine wrote, “Due to developments in the situation surrounding the liberation of IOP, our location may change!” Stay tuned…” the post read.
Iron Key hung an American flag in the second-story window of his fraternity house.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:41pm
The man, who declined to be identified, claimed that pro-Palestinian protesters walked across the lawn in front of the Lor Chabad center, across from the ongoing encampment, carrying bricks.
“You walk there [a place for] Jewish life and learning with bricks? It’s scary,” the man said.
The man said he saw a protester talking to police and said a protester “shocked my female friend” before another protester called him a “racist Jew.” ” he claimed. The man has now filed a complaint with UCPD.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:33pm
In a statement to maroonUCPD Chief Kyle Bowman discussed the situation.
“UCPD is securing the area and allowing protesters to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights,” Bowman said. “Officers are currently assessing the damage on the university grounds and will decide whether to clear the area.”
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:25pm
UCPD continues to block off the main entrance to the IOP building. The number of protesters on the front porch was reduced to four. UCPD appears to have full control of the building.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:20pm
After the Iron Key fraternity began playing American-themed music, three protesters walked toward the fraternity house and began pulling flowers from the lawn in front of the fraternity house. One of the protesters removed a brick from a flower bed.
There remains a significant UCPD and CPD presence in the area surrounding the IOP building.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:12pm
The Iron Key fraternity, formerly known as Delta Upsilon, began playing loudly. The American national anthem plays from their fraternity house. Protesters responded by shouting “fuck you, fuck you!”
Protesters set up four tents in front of the IOP.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:09pm
Several Chicago United for Palestine (UCUP) organizers who led the encampment on the Quad said: maroon That they are not organizing this action.
In a story on its Instagram account, UCUP appealed for donations of tents, sleeping bags and “camping equipment.”
“Please come prepared to stay for a while,” the post said.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 6:01pm
“This is our building and we are here to stay,” a demonstrator said in front of the building.
“Although there is no one inside the building, the fact remains that this building is ours,” they added.
UCPD continues to enter and exit the building through the side entrance.
— Maroon Staff
May 17th 5:53pm
Protesters duct-taped a banner reading “Bring INTIFADA Home” to the front wall of the building.
— Maroon Staff
May 17th, 5:44pm
Two protesters climbed onto the roof above the entrance and held up Palestinian flags. Demonstrators on the ground cheered as they climbed up.
— Maroon Staff
May 17th 5:40pm
On the Telegram channel “Disrupt U of Chicago,” organizers sent out a message at 5:11 p.m.: “Bring your sleeping bags, we’re staying.”
Six minutes later, organizers shared a statement on the “Bring Back the Intifada” channel from “a group of protesters seizing control of the Kasbah in Basel al-Araj, formerly known as the University of Chicago Institute of Politics.” did. [sic]” Bassel al-Araj was a Palestinian activist, author, and author. In 2016, he was arrested by the Palestinian Authority and charged with planning an attack against Israel. In 2017, Israeli police forces killed al-Araj in a shootout as they tried to break into his home.
“We created a political institute that is a hotbed for politicians, bureaucrats, and nonprofit workers alike to learn to say the right thing while addressing violence and destruction against oppressed and colonized peoples. released,” the statement said.
“We condemn the University of Chicago for its past and present complicity in the genocide of the Palestinian people, for inventing neoliberal economics and for using the Chicago Boys as a puppet of the Pinochet regime’s bloody authoritarian rule in Chile and elsewhere. It is targeted for both enabling and creating the first nuclear weapons, installing nuclear reactors, and violently displacing and policing black communities by the nation’s largest civilian police force, the UCPD.
The second part of the statement is titled “Statement of Principles from the Liberated Qasbeh of Basel Al-Araj” and lists six items.
“We must step up action against all governments, institutions, and corporations that participate in, profit from, and enable genocide,” the first point reads.
“We have nothing to gain by cooperating with the government, the police and the administration. We do not negotiate. We do not share information about each other’s identities. We do not ask for permission to act. We rely on each other, not the state in any form, for essential care, safety and support,” another bulletin reads.
The statement did not mention issues or demands that UCUP has frequently mentioned in past meetings, such as for UCUP to acknowledge bombing of universities in Gaza or to divest from companies with ties to Israel.
— maroon staff
May 17th 5:37pm
CPD officers are attempting to move away from the front of the building to allow vehicles to continue on Woodlawn Avenue. Barriers blocking traffic in both directions were also removed.
IOP Institute Director Heidi Heitkampf was removed from the building by UCPD.
— Maroon Staff
May 17th 5:30pm
Members of the condominium management committee conducted interviews. maroon After trash cans from their building were taken away by protesters to block the entrance to the IOP building.
“Protests and freedom of speech are part of our movement and are part of the rights given to us, but when it starts to affect personal property and private property, it becomes a protest.” “This is when participants cross the line. They must ensure that they respect private property and conduct their protests within acceptable limits,” they said.
— maroon staff
May 17th 5:20pm
Organizers with Chicago United for Palestine said the occupation was organized by an independent alumni group.
UCPD officers no longer participate in IOP. Protesters are using Neubauer chairs to block the entrance to the IOP. Two CPD officers have retired from Neubauer.
— maroon staff
May 17th 5:14pm
of maroon They estimated 200 protesters gathered around a tent in front of the building.
— maroon staff
May 17th 5:10pm
Two UCPD officers carrying shields entered the Neubauer University of Culture and Society, which is adjacent to the IOP.
Currently, personnel are stationed on all sides of the IOP’s backyard.
Protesters have now set up two tents in front of the building.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 5:07pm
UCPD officers will continue to enter the front door.
Demonstrators snatched police shields.
— maroon staff
May 17th, 5:02pm
Protesters have blocked the main entrance to the IOP with banners and signs. It appears there may still be protesters inside the building.
Protesters in the backyard covered part of the human chain with black cloth.
— maroon staff
May 17th 5pm
Chicago Police Department officers said Chicago police were at the scene in a supporting role.
— maroon staff
May 17th 4:58pm
About a dozen protesters emerge from the IOP through a second-story window.
Protesters’ cries could be heard in backyards and alleys.
After the last protester jumped out, a UCPD officer appeared through the window.
— maroon staff
May 17th 4:56pm
of maroon UCPD officers observed entering the building through the north window of the IOP building.
— maroon staff
May 17th 4:55pm
Demonstrators are throwing objects at police officers as they try to enter.of maroon It is estimated that there are about 40 police officers.
— maroon staff
May 17th 4:54pm
UCPD entered the political lab and removed the protesters who were blocking the door.
— maroon staff
May 17th 4:45pm
A growing group of backyard protesters set up barricades in front of rows of chairs and some wooden benches. Twelve CPD officers are spread out in the back alley, and more than 20 are at the back entrance of the building.
— maroon staff
