Pro-Palestine protesters begin day eight of their encampment on George Washington University’s yard today. Yesterday, congresspeople visited the encampment and insinuated Bowser should call in the National Guard. We talked with Lauren Lumpkin and Peter Hermann from the Washington Post on our podcast about the latest.
Who Is Protesting?
Students from DMV universities including George Washington, Georgetown, American, Gallaudet, and George Mason, as well as members of the public, have come together at the encampment. Over 60 tents can now be seen on the GW lawn, with hundreds of demonstrators coming in and out.
What Are Their Demands?
Protesters are demanding each university protect pro-Palestine speech on campus, divest from companies supporting Israel, end partnerships with Israel, and disclose their endowments. They are also demanding GW drop charges against seven students who were suspended and barred from campus for refusing to relocate.
How Has DC Responded?
On Friday night, GW officials requested the Metropolitan Police Department clear out the encampment, but the police rejected the appeal. Bowser said she trusted MPD’s long history of dealing with First Amendment protests in the District and that they would “not tolerate violence of any kind.” Officers have been monitoring the encampment.
They're thinking heavily about the police clearing Lafayette Square during the George Floyd protests and how bad that looked on TV. They don’t want to see the D.C. police on GW campus doing the same thing.
Peter Hermann, Reporter, Washington Post
Congressional Backlash:
On Tuesday, two Republican members of Congress sent a letter to Bowser and D.C.’s Chief of Police, criticizing them for not clearing the protestors from GW. The letter said MPD’s refusal was “deeply disturbing” and they threatened to exercise “legislative options to address the unlawful and antisemitic protest encampment.” The House Oversight Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing next Wednesday about D.C.’s response to the protests.
Demonstrations at George Washington University yard. (Ashe Durban/City Cast DC)
The Latest:
Yesterday afternoon, congress members toured the GW encampment and held a press conference. Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said the protesters were “trespassing” and that Congress will do everything they can to get “law and order.” Then, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) tried to pull down the Palestinian flag wrapped around the George Washington statue on the way out.
