At 5 a.m., the encampment was being taken down by the University of Chicago Police (I didn’t see anybody but University Police and Allied Security). Here is a short video of the action on the quad, with lots of chanting, police shouting, and cop-car lights flashing.
It doesn’t look as if anybody’s being arrested, but keffiyeh-clad and mask-clad protestors are fleeing the encampment. If they don’t take names or punish the encampers, they’ll just come back again. But I have no idea what information the University has. The press, too, are being expelled from the Quad.
. . . and the Maroon’s report:
May 7, 5:09 a.m.
The raid came as most of the encampment had returned to their tents for the night. Two UCPD cars drove onto the quad and used their lamps to light up the encampment. Over a loudspeaker, UCUP ordered the demonstrators to leave the quad. Then, shortly after their announcements, several dozen officers in riot gear surrounded the encampment to prepare to enter.
— Peter Maheras, News Editor
May 7, 5:06 a.m.
The UCUP organizer said that they were not sure whether people were arrested. They believe that the goal was to push people out of the quad.
— Maroon Staff
May 7, 5:03 a.m.
A UCUP organizer described the raid in an interview with the Maroon.
“They pushed me. One person was on the ground. They’ve been pushing people out,” the organizer said.
“They did not give us a clear plan for leaving. They came in maybe two minutes after the warning. It’s clear that they waited until after the rally was over. We were at our most vulnerable,” the organizer added. “I believe we got everybody safely out of [their tents].”
— Maroon Staff
May 7, 4:59 a.m.
Police in riot gear are blocking access to the quad as many people arrive at the quad hoping to enter.
— Peter Maheras, News Editor; Emma Janssen, Deputy News Editor
Hmm. We’ll see how it turns out.
I heard one theoretical way to draw the encampments off of the campuses, with no police or riot gear : fly Taylor Swift in for a free live show off-campus – get the sound to flood the quads.
Might be a lot of pushing, though.
Finally! Hallelujah!
About time! I hope that they identified the happy campers.
“Good”. [Insert picture of Grumpy Cat.]
Thanks. Looking forward to further updates from our man on the scene, PCC(E). Maybe some more on the freedom from the press bit in the light of day and hindsight.
The early morning on the scene update from the Maroon reporters is at
https://chicagomaroon.com/43157/uncategorized/breaking-police-arrive-on-main-quad-in-riot-gear-tell-protesters-to-leave/
But if there are no consequences for the students they will return. And then how can ANY student be charged with any kind of conduct violation in the future?
I just saw this, everyone should check – this guy is back again … “For Palestine!” :
x.com/askdani__real/status/1787484353057960161?s=46
^^^ maybe not the original eXtweet…
Hilarious!
> “It’s clear that they waited until after the rally was over. We were at our most vulnerable…”
And what time would have been convenient for them to leave?
>”They came in maybe two minutes after the warning.”
Would 7 minutes have been better? Half an hour?