Pro-Palestine Protestors Occupy Cal Poly Humboldt Building

At one point, the number of pro-Palestine protesters swelled to several hundred Monday evening.
Published: April 24, 2024

ARCATA, Calif. — The Cal Poly Humboldt campus was closed Tuesday in response to about 60 pro-Palestine protesters barricading themselves inside Siemens Hall.

The protest started on Monday, and at around 4:50 p.m. some of the protesters locked themselves inside the building, reports SF Gate. Cal Poly Humboldt administrators said they were concerned about the protesters’ safety in the building and asked them to leave.

At one point, the number of protesters swelled to several hundred Monday evening, reports NCJ. Police from several local agencies attempted to make arrests, only to have the protesters pulled back by the crowd. Three people were eventually arrested.

NCJ is also reporting that at one point in the evening, pepper ball guns were requested by police so the crowd could be dispersed. It’s unclear if the pepper ball equipment was actually used. As of Tuesday morning, law enforcement officers had left the campus. Cal Poly Humboldt will remain closed through Wednesday, in response to the unrest.

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Pro-Palestine Protests at Universities Spreading Across Nation

The demonstration at the Northern California school is just one of many happening on college campuses across the country in reaction to Israel’s invasion of Gaza following Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7. So far, at least 33,137 Palestinians have died, with thousands more missing. Just over 1,400 Israelis have been killed.

The protesters are calling for the school to divest from organizations they believe are helping Israel conduct the war, including companies that make weapons and Israeli companies.

The demonstrations at Cal Poly Humboldt follow protests at Columbia University, Yale, MIT, NYU, Vanderbilt, and Brown Universities. Pro-Palestine protests have also taken place at the University of Michigan, Harvard,  and Emerson College.

The pro-Palestine protest encampments have also spread to other colleges, such as UC Berkeley, where dozens of tents have been erected in solidarity with protesters at other campuses.

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