Hundreds gathered at ºüÀêÊÓƵ University Wednesday evening to protest the war in Gaza days after more than 100 people were arrested during a protest at Washington University. Video by Vanessa Abbitt, Post-Dispatch
ST. LOUIS — About 300 protesters shut down Grand Boulevard for more than an hour Wednesday evening in protest of the war in Gaza.Â
City officials vowed that police would not intervene if the protest remained peaceful, and as of 9 p.m. they had made good on their word.Â
Protesters chanted "Free, free, free Palestine" and "disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest" to condemn the war between Israel and Hamas and protest ºüÀêÊÓƵ University's ties to Boeing Co., which sells warplanes and munitions used by Israel in the war.Â
Nadia Abusoud, a third-year Palestinian student at SLU, said in addition to protesting in support of Palestine, attendees were also supporting protests that have erupted at colleges across the U.S. in recent weeks.Â
"It's my university's turn," Abusoud said in an interview. "This is doing our part and showing support."
Protesters marched across Grand Boulevard around 6:45 p.m., and when they returned they sat down in the street. Police blocked traffic on both sides of the sit-in.Â
The scene was markedly different from Saturday at Washington University, where a protest turned into a clash with cops as protesters were setting up encampments.Â
More than 100 people were arrested, including at least 23 students and four faculty members; the students have been suspended from school and kicked out of on-campus housing, and several faculty members were put on leave and barred from campus.Â
At Wednesday's protest, Marquis Govan pointed out SLU's status as a Jesuit university and asked the crowd: "Would Jesus want us to keep food, water and aid from starving children?"
Among the attendees was Megan Green, president of the ºüÀêÊÓƵ Board of Aldermen. Green, an adjunct professor at Washington University, attended Saturday's protest and was put on leave by the university this week.Â
In a letter informing her of her suspension, the university claimed she was put on leave for using her campus access card to let people into campus buildings. Green has disputed that claim. Â
Not all attendees on Wednesday were in support of protester's demands.Â
Maicoll Gomez walked through campus, U.S. flag in tow, with his sister Valentina Gomez, a Republican candidate for Missouri Secretary of State.
"If they don't like America, they can go and fight in Palestine themselves," he said.
As the protest wrapped up around 8:45 p.m., two people were detained by SLU public safety officers after a skirmish between a protester and a person holding an Israeli flag.Â
Hours before the Wednesday protest, ºüÀêÊÓƵ Mayor Tishaura Jones and SLMPD said police would not use force against or interfere with "peaceful" protests.Â
The joint statement from Jones and police Chief Robert Tracy also said officers would intervene if violence broke out or if the university's property was damaged.Â
"We ask the entire community recognize that the rejection of violence is central to ensuring a safe environment for all," the statement said.
SLU President Fred Pestello said Wednesday afternoon SLU created "a number" of plans to ensure the school's community could continue to learn and work on campus Wednesday evening. Students were encouraged to carry their SLU ID cards.Â
"We embrace engagement with challenging ideas as a necessary — if sometimes uncomfortable — component of our mission to pursue truth," Pestello wrote in a message to SLU's community.
Videos of the Saturday demonstration at Washington University showed police pulling protesters from linked arms, students screaming at officers, and detainees being escorted and dragged to police vehicles. A Southern Illinois University Edwardsville professor, Steve Tamari, said Tuesday three of his ribs and one of his hands were broken during his arrest.
In a message to the school's community on Monday, Chancellor Andrew Martin wrote that a large group of individuals came to campus "intending to disrupt, do harm, and interfere with educational activities and campus life."Â
Organizers of the protest have since pushed back on university leaders' claims that the demonstration was not peaceful.Â
Photos: Hundreds march at ºüÀêÊÓƵ University to protest war in Gaza
A group of supporters of Palestinians begins to march on the campus of ºüÀêÊÓƵ University, Wednesday night, May 1, 2024 during a rally for those in Gaza affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
Protesters block North Grand Boulevard during a march through the campus of ºüÀêÊÓƵ University on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 to protest Israel's war in Gaza. Police blocked traffic for about an hour as the protesters gave speeches in the road, chanted and prayed. Photo by David Carson, dcarson@post-dispatch.com
Aman Al-Zahrani stands on a bollard and chants with other protesters blocking North Grand Boulevard during a march through the campus of ºüÀêÊÓƵ University on Wednesday, May 1, 2024 to protest the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Police blocked traffic for about an hour as the protesters gave speeches in the road, chanted, and prayed.
A group of supporters of Palestinians, including ones holding a sign tying Boeing and the United States to thousands of deaths in Gaza, march on the campus of ºüÀêÊÓƵ University, Wednesday night, May 1, 2024 during a rally for those in Gaza affected by the Israel-Hamas war.
A protester holds up a peace sign as supporters of Palestinians march on the campus of ºüÀêÊÓƵ University on May 1 during a rally for those in Gaza affected by the Israel-Hamas war.