Nine individuals were arrested on Tuesday morning at the University of Minnesota's Twin Cities campus for setting up an encampment that violated school policy, according to a statement from the university.
The university's Department of Public Safety was alerted to the encampment near the Northrop Mall on the Twin Cities campus on Tuesday morning. Police arrived at approximately 6 am local time and informed the individuals at the encampment that they were breaching both University policy and state trespassing law.
Authorities instructed the group to disperse by 7 am and warned that arrests would be made if they did not comply. Despite the warning, nine individuals chose to remain at the encampment and were subsequently arrested without any resistance.
The Faculty, Librarians, Alumni, Graduate Students, and Staff for Justice in Palestine at the University of Minnesota (FLAGS JP) shared a video on social media showcasing the encampment as a display of solidarity with Palestine and a call to end what they described as genocide and apartheid. The group has been contacted for a response regarding the arrests.
In response to the incident, the university emphasized its support for free speech and lawful protest, stating that it upholds the rights of all members of the University community to express themselves peacefully.
