[Editor’s note: Some student organizers are using pseudonyms or first names only when addressing media outlets. The Daily Emerald has permitted this in limited cases in order to understand the events in the encampment. In these cases, on first reference, the Daily Emerald will refer to sources as “identifying as” or “going by” their names. All sources identified as students have been independently verified by the Emerald.]
The Daily Emerald is providing live coverage of the University of Oregon’s pro-Palestine encampment, which began on April 29 at 7 a.m. All of our coverage on the encampment can be found here.
A group of pro-Palestine UO students began an encampment on the Memorial Quad on April 29, joining dozens of other pro-Palestine student encampments across the country.
The encampment is being led by a number of UO student groups, including the university’s chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Young Democratic Socialists of America and UO Grads for Palestine.
In a statement, student organizers said the encampments would continue “until demands are met by the university” — more specifically, boycotting and divesting from “the state of Israel, Israeli companies, and any weapons or surveillance manufacturing.” The statement also called for additional statements and protections supporting “Palestinian, Jewish, Muslim and Arab students.”
The encampment comes amid a period of high visibility for pro-Palestine student protesters. The New York Times has reported that over 800 protesters have been arrested at college campuses across the country since April 18.
Over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed since Oct. 7 in the Israel-Hamas war, according to the Gazan Ministry of Health, while roughly 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel.
A student identifying themselves as Cedar, a UO senior in the encampment, said that organizers were frustrated by the university’s response to the war.
“The university has been real quiet, and we think that’s irresponsible of them,” they said. “We want to make sure the students here are protected and are able to learn, so we want statements against the harassment of those individuals, affirming that they will be protected.”
Pro-Palestine encampments across the nation have been met with significant counter-protests, including allegations of antisemitism. Substantial counter-protests to the UO encampment had not emerged as of 11:30 a.m. on Monday.
Andy Gitelson, executive director of UO Jewish student organization Oregon Hillel, sent an email to community members on Monday morning acknowledging the encampment.
“Students have a right to protest, but they do not have the right to intimidate or threaten Jewish students, nor do they have a right to intimidate or threaten Jewish students,” Gitelson said in the email. Gitelson also said Hillel was in communication with university administrators and campus security.
Another student going by Ian, a UO first-year student and student organizer in the encampment, said the protest was intended to be a safe space for Jewish students. Jewish Voice for Peace, a prominent Jewish pro-Palestine group, was one of the organizers of the encampment.
“There’s going to be repeated antisemitism claims, but we forcefully contest those claims and are actively working with Jewish Voice for Peace,” Ian said. “We don’t want to conflate Zionism with Judaism; we are actively working to create a safe space for Jewish people, for everyone.”
SJP, Grads for Palestine and YDSA posted “community guidelines” on Instagram at 9 a.m. for the encampments, one guideline ensuring that members involved will not engage with “Zionist counter protesters or provocateurs.” The guidelines also discourage community members who are not affiliated with the university from entering the encampment.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
