Pro-Palestinian encampment at Univ. of Pittsburgh clears out after a second night of clashes with police

[FakeNoose]

Pittsbrgh Post-Gazette link: https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2024/06/03/university-of-pittsburgh-palestine-gaza-protest/stories/202406030081

Pro-Palestinian protesters cleared out from the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning [the main building on campus] overnight after a re-escalation of tensions Monday evening saw some wrestling police officers over control of metal barriers and taunting the officers directly with chants of “oink oink piggy piggy” and “all cops are bastards.”

The conflict Monday night — the second straight night of demonstrations — included a pink smoke bomb firework and water bottles thrown at police officers. Officers were seen throwing some protesters to the ground. Medics were called to the scene, as well as additional police units.

By about 2 a.m. Tuesday, protesters had left the encampment without any issues, Post-Gazette news partners KDKA-TV reported. No arrests were made. Although City of Pittsburgh police cars were on scene, Public Safety spokesperson Cara Cruz said Pittsburgh police were not yet involved with the protest; it remained under the jurisdiction of the university police.... (snip)

The protesters have demanded that the university “terminate” two on-campus Jewish and Israeli student groups — the Student Coalition for Israel and Pitt’s chapter of Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life. They have also demanded that Pitt “demilitarize” campus police by removing armed officers and sever ties with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.

On Sunday night, several protesters defaced the Cathedral of Learning and placed materials in one of the building’s doorways, seemingly with the intent to ignite the materials, according to Ms. Gabel. The Frick Fine Arts Building was also defaced with antisemitic graffiti, University Chancellor Joan Gabel indicated, and a weapon was thrown through one of its windows.

- more at link -

Let's hope that's over now. A large concentration of the Jewish residents of Pittsburgh live in nearby residential neighborhoods. This protest could have gotten out of hand very quickly.

[comradebillyboy]

1. So they want to ban Jewish student organizations at Pitt?

What's next, banning Jews altogether? Going to bring some of that much vaunted Middle Eastern freedom and tolerance to the US.

[FakeNoose]

2. We actually have a lot of ethnic neighborhoods in Pittsburgh

Unlike Detroit, our Middle Eastern and Arab residents are outnumbered by the Jewish population, many of whom are born here rather than immigrated from somewhere else. For the most part everyone gets along pretty well.

I wouldn't be surprised if this trouble at Pitt was caused by outside troublemakers. I've been scanning the news and if it turns out to be the case, I'll post it here on DU.

[comradebillyboy]

3. Thanks, please do.