UPDATE: April 26, 5:15 p.m.
The Daily Illini: What is it looking like right now? How do you think this is going to end? What are your thoughts exactly?
Member of Young Democratic Socialists of America: I mean, obviously there’s a lot of police forces gathering, so we’re very worried about that, especially because we have heard they have pepper spray and are willing to be violent.
I mean, the entire point of us being here is not to get violent, that we don’t want to be violent and, you know, anything that is instigated will be instigated by them. So I think from standing here and watching what’s going on it’s scary to see, but it’s also very hopeful to see how everyone is rallying around.
DI: Did you expect this large of a crowd?
Anonymous: Actually, I honestly did not. I was also here for the 5 a.m. encampment, and it was a much smaller crowd obviously because it was very early. So seeing how many people have been able to attend this and who are so supportive has really been super surprising and really exciting.
DI: A number (is) written on your arm. What’s that?
Anonymous: It’s for a bail fund and jail assistant. So if you are to get arrested, we try and write this number on as many peoples’ arms as possible. So that in case of arrest, they have this to read off as their phone call to make.
DI: What is your role or what organization are you through?
Anonymous: I’m through Young Democratic Socialists of America. However, I know there’s so many different works here. So obviously, I don’t speak for all of them, but I’ve kind of been hands-on, on the scene, been here since five, been here until now kind of just throwing my assistance wherever I can. Mainly I’ve been recording to make sure that we have everything documented. Also, I’m not really able to get arrested. So I’ve just been kind of, you know, seeing where I can fill in, seeing what needs help leading chants, stuff like that.
DI: Do you see an end to this like today or do you guys intend to go (on) as long as possible?
Anonymous: We are definitely intending to go as long as possible, whether we are able to continue through today or whether we have to regroup and come back. It’s definitely a movement we’re planning on continuing, something that’s happening nationally. There are so many other schools that are participating in this and empowering each other to keep going.
DI: Have you all been in contact with the police department at all?
Anonymous: Not really. I mean, they’ve come to have conversations with us where they’ll say, “Oh, you need to take your things down” in some unreasonable way, like, 10 minutes. Obviously, a lot of the stuff in there is probably not stuff that can be taken down in 10 minutes. So it’s been hard to settle on compromises just because they’ve been very strict with their demands. We’re also trying to uphold arms.
