41 Brown University students arrested at sit-in protest demanding divestment
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — 41 Brown University students were arrested while participating in a sit-in protest at University Hall demanding the school divest from companies facilitating the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
According to a press release issued by the Brown Divest Coalition, at 6 p.m., the students were arrested after remaining in the closed building, demanding Brown University promote a permanent ceasefire and divest from companies, as per the Brown University Advisory Committee on Corporate Responsibility and Investment Practices’ (ACCRIP) 2020 report.
A press release later issued by Brown University confirmed the 41 arrests by Brown’s Department of Public Safety. All the students were processed inside University Hall by Providence police.
The Brown Divest Coalition shared this photo of students doing a sit-in protest inside University Hall on Dec. 11, 2023.
The release from the University reads in part, “The disruption to secure buildings is not acceptable, and the University is prepared to escalate the level of criminal charges for future incidents of students occupying secure buildings. Given that this is the second prominent incident in recent weeks of students trespassing in a secure, non-residential building after operating hours, the University fully expects to recommend more significant criminal misdemeanor charges for any future incidents after the Dec. 11 sit-in. Students continue to have the ability to hold protests and demonstrations, provided they abide by the University’s codes of conduct.”
The university’s release continues by saying arresting students is not something it takes lightly and is not something the university ever wants to do.
“I want to share this with my parents, particularly my mother: I didn’t tell you that I was going to do this because I knew that you would worry. But then I thought of all of the mothers in Gaza who have not had a moment since October seventh when they have not been worried about their children’s’ lives,” said Kate, a student participating in the sit-in with Brown Divest Coalition.
“If they are not already grieving, they are spending every second fearing the day that they will. This includes the lives of all of my Palestinian and Arab classmates, including my friend Hisham. Sitting in with my classmates was the most vital way that I could use my current privilege of safety, to say that a ceasefire is the bare minimum,” Kate continued explaining.
The students participating in the sit-in entered the hall at 9 a.m. and said they would not leave until their demands were met. In response, President Christina Paxson gave students a letter reaffirming her unwillingness to support the ACCRIP report, saying in part, “I stand by my previous decision not to bring the 2020 ACCRIP recommendation forward to the Corporation.”
This is a photo of protestors gathering outside University Hall at Brown University demanding the school promote a ceasefire in the Middle East and divest from companies involved in the conflict. (WNLE)
As a result of the letter, students protesting said they would continue to protest in the Brown Corporation meeting room.
Shortly after 5 p.m., University security and Providence police arrived to University Hall and arrested all 41 participants. The students will be arraigned on January 9, 2024, according to the Brown Divest Coalition.
This protest also comes after a Palestinian Brown University student paralyzed after being shot in an unprovoked attack in Burlington, Vermont. It also comes as the second sit-in protest at the university that has ended with students being arrested.
