Professional-Palestinian protesters disrupt Pomona convocation
Roughly two dozen pro-Palestinian protesters, many sporting masks and keffiyehs, blocked entry to a convocation ceremony at Pomona Faculty Tuesday, The Claremont Courier reported.
The native information outlet stated that protesters refused to adjust to requests from campus security officers who requested them to maneuver, take away their masks and present their scholar identification. The group Pomona Divest From Apartheid took credit score for the protest.
“WE SHUT DOWN CONVOCATION,” the group posted on Instagram Tuesday.
Pomona college students, like these at many faculties throughout the nation, staged protests within the spring over the Israel-Hamas warfare, calling for a ceasefire and demanding that the faculty divest from corporations profiting off the bloodshed. At one level protesters occupied the Pomona president’s workplace, which led to the arrest of 20 college students, although expenses for 19 will likely be dropped in the event that they full group service necessities.
“We ship a transparent message to the Pomona Board of Trustees and Administration: We is not going to settle for enterprise as ordinary when Pomona refuses to reveal and divest investments complicit within the occupation and genocide of Palestinians. Our coalition is extra robust and united than ever earlier than,”Pomona Divest From Apartheid wrote in its Instagram submit.
Because of the disruption, Pomona’s convocation was live-streamed.
“Pomona Faculty held its convocation ceremony right this moment, an occasion held every fall marking the opening of the tutorial 12 months,” Pomona Faculty spokesperson Patricia Vest advised The Claremont Courier. “Sadly, protesters blocked entrances and impeded public entry to the venue. For the security of all attendees, the ceremony continued with the stage social gathering solely contained in the venue, and a live-stream was made obtainable to all Faculty college students, school and employees.”
The demonstration marks one of many first vital disruptions to campus actions this tutorial 12 months as universities throughout the U.S. put together for seemingly protests because the warfare in Gaza continues.
