University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and multiple university administrators met with student organizers on the morning of May 2 to discuss next steps for meeting the demands of pro-Palestine protesters.
The meeting came a day after police dismantled the protesters’ encampment and arrested 34 people. Yesterday’s escalation brought violence to an otherwise peaceful demonstration, resulting in the arrest of multiple students and faculty members, many of whom are people of color.
More tents appeared Thursday, and have not been dismantled.
At 11 a.m. Thursday, student organizers gave updates in front of Library Mall from the 8:30 a.m. meeting in Bascom Hall. The meeting started with students and faculty condemning the police brutality used on students and faculty, with faculty members sharing their own experiences of police violence yesterday morning.
“Students, faculty, and administration in the room agreed to another meeting within the next 24 hours, and the Chancellor guaranteed that there would be no police action from now until that meeting,” a student organizer announced. Student negotiators are working with Senior Vice Provost John Zumbrennen to set up the next meeting with Mnookin and members of her cabinet.
In addition to Mnookin and Zumbrunnen, Provost Charles Isbell, Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion LaVar Charleston, and Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor were also in attendance at the meeting.
Despite this seeming forward movement, student organizers called Mnookin’s meeting with them “the bare minimum.”
“It’s really good to know that we have 24 hours to not be brutalized by the police, but again, this is something that should be an expectation no matter what and unfortunately it’s not,” said Abbie Klein, a community organizer and PhD student.
Student organizers remain skeptical of the material outcomes of the upcoming meeting.
“I hope that this leads to a good faith effort to meet our demands that are beyond just [rhetoric],” PhD student and Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) member Dahlia Saba told members of the press.
“I’m glad to hear that the chancellor is addressing it, but I think that she should be ashamed of the actions she took yesterday,” Saba added. “I think it shouldn’t take public outcry for her to realize how bad it is that instead of talking to students, her first response was to deploy police force with batons and tasers to attack students.”
State Representative Francesca Hong, who has been consistently present at the encampment, expressed resolute solidarity with the student-led movement.
“My role is to take the lead from students,” she said. “I think it’s really important to note that these protests have been peaceful and celebratory and a really strong expression of democracy. To see the violence only occur when there’s law enforcement is disappointing and concerning. I just hope that everyone remembers that this-student centered, student-led movement is one we should all be learning from.”
Regarding today’s and tomorrow’s meetings, Hong says she is hopeful.
“I am relieved and very excited for the students to get this win and to maintain open communication with the chancellor’s administration,” she said. “I trust our students, I’m impressed by their courage and this really beautiful expression of democracy, and I know that they will be negotiating in good faith to represent everyone that’s come together here today.”
Since police destroyed the original encampment, more tents have been erected with greater organization, and an outpouring of food, drink, and supply donations from the community, as well as monetary support for bail funds.
Students and community members remain gathered and determined, even amid unideal weather conditions. While student negotiators were meeting with Mnookin this morning, student organizers kept spirits high with chants reiterating their demands for disclosure and divestment, and an end to UW-Madison’s complicity in genocide.
Programming today includes teach-ins about public speaking and pinkwashing, dabke dances, and general meetings.
