NEW ORLEANS — Tulane moves to virtual online classes as protesters in support of the Palestinian people continue to camp on the Tulane University campus Tuesday morning.
This comes after a few hundred protesters clashed with law enforcement on Monday as they marched Uptown from Freret to St. Charles Avenue in protest of the war in Gaza. In a statement released Monday, the university said the protest was “unregistered and unsanctioned” by the University.
Six protesters were arrested on Monday. Their charges include trespassing, battery on an officer, and resisting arrest.
“The older generations, our parents’ generations, and the generations that get to make all the laws and decisions about the world have put us in a position where we feel the need to exercise our rights and our voices in order to give light to a situation that we think is really important,” said one Pro-Palestine protester at the scene.
“I have a bunch of friends currently serving in the IDF, and a ton of friends in Israel, all across the world, and every college that is facing this terrible antisemitism, that is truly what it is,” said one supporter of Israel also at the Tulane campus protest. “At this point, it is not just Palestinian activism, it is really antisemitism.”
The protester encampment on the St. Charles Avenue campus lawn forced the university to close three campus buildings in the area and move classes to remote learning.
“Gibson, Tilton-Memorial, and Dinwiddie Halls on Tulane’s uptown campus will be closed today, Tuesday, April 30. This is due to the continued unlawful protest activity taking place on the lawn in front of Gibson Hall, on the St. Charles Avenue side. The overwhelming number of these protestors are unaffiliated with Tulane,” Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts said in a statement released early Tuesday morning.
“Arrests have already been made and suspensions are being issued. We want to be clear: We do not condone and will not allow trespassing, hate speech, antisemitism and bias against religious or ethnic groups, harassment, intimidation, violence, and other criminal acts on any of our campuses.”
“The lawn in front of Gibson Hall, on the St. Charles Avenue side, is closed to all students, faculty, and staff until further notice. Cowen Circle will be closed to all traffic and parking. For safety reasons, community members are advised to avoid the area adjacent to the Gibson Hall lawn, including along the neutral ground of St. Charles Avenue.”
The full statement from Tulane University can be read here.