Students for Justice in Palestine released a joint statement at 7 a.m. in conjunction with Faculty for Justice in Palestine.
In the statement posted to their Instagram, SJP stated, “We have chosen to TEMPORARILY take down the encampment on our own terms.”
The members of the encampments began moving out supplies at approximately 12:30 a.m. this morning and taking down tents at 3 a.m.
SJP explained in the statement that the teach-ins and the overall experience “have done more to bring the walls down between the community and the University than the University has done in all of its initiatives and investments.”
SJP said the encampment — which they coined the “Popular University for Gaza” — created a general sense of community and solidarity.
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They also revisited the arrests made on April 26, referring to how Illinois State Attorney Julia Rietz had “expressed her intention to crack down on protesters.”
They close out the statement by saying, “We will not stop until this University has severed ties from corporations that have contributed to the slaughter of over 40,000 innocent Palestinians, and most importantly, until Palestine is free.”
In a statement to The Daily Illini from the University, “the peaceful end to the prohibited encampment is helpful, and we look forward to a joyous conclusion to the semester for our graduates and visitors.”
After almost two weeks, the final tents were removed from the Main Quad around 8:40 a.m. this morning by Facilities & Services as well as members of the encampment.
