Day 2 of Brown Palestine encampment ends with Community Council vote
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The second day of an encampment protesting Brown University’s financial ties to Israel’s military operations in Gaza ended with a vote by the school’s Community Council recommending a discussion on divestment.
At least 100 students are part of the encampment part of a nationwide trend of Pro-Palestinian protests that started at Columbia University and continued with arrests at other campuses.
The students that organized the encampment also want charges dropped against the 41 students who were arrested after a sit-in in December 2023.
“As much as I disagree with the end goals of the protest, I think that it feels a little more collaborative and of a good nature,” Brown Alum Daniel Satlow said.
The students said they would keep the protest going until they heard what they wanted from university administration.
“We don’t know how the university will react,” Gaza Solidarity Encampment Spokesperson Arman Deedar said. “We are prepared to and will stay here until Brown either agrees to our demands or they remove us forcibly from the premise.”
The Brown University Community Council, which advises President Christina Paxson, passed two resolutions Thursday, recommending a discussion on divestment at the next University Corporation meeting as well as urging charges be dropped against the previously arrested students.
A spokesperson for the university said students in the encampment had their IDs checked for security purposes and were sent emails noting they were violating policy.
Brown officials also wanted to make sure nobody from outside the campus community was on the quad.
In a letter sent on the first day of the encampment, President Paxson indicated there are no plans to have the campers arrested, but a spokesperson said the ultimate punishment could include students being kicked out of the university.
“We find that risk of suspension, risk of arrest are pretty minimal in terms of what’s going in Gaza,” Deedar said.
