University of Iowa police remove encampment Monday morning

IOWA CITY — Within 30 minutes of a group of pro-Palestinian protesters setting up a small encampment at the University of Iowa’s Hubbard Park just after 7 a.m. Monday, UI police, Johnson County sheriff’s officers, and Iowa State Patrol troopers were on scene ordering them to leave or be arrested.

The group initially ignored the officers and continued building a fence to reinforce their camp of about a dozen tents with chicken wire, wood pallets, plywood with handles, and a sheet of corrugated metal, according to a statement from UI police.

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“When this occurred, UIPD made the decision to immediately enforce university policy and began to remove the materials,” according to the statement. “UIPD then provided one final warning that the organizers needed to leave, or they could be arrested. The organizers ultimately chose to leave.”

UI police ultimately made no arrests.

In a social media post, the group — calling themselves “University of Iowa Action for Palestine” — first reported plans to camp around 7 a.m. with the message: “Camp is Up! All bodies to Hubbard Park at the IMU ASAP.”

About an hour later, they reported — again on social media — that “The liberated zone has been disbanded for now … We will be back. Nothing can stop the revolution.”

At that time, the group shared that about nine officers showed up less than half an hour after they began setup.

“As far as can be told, everyone made it out safely,” according to the group’s post.

In sharing photos of officers milling about Monday morning’s deconstructed camp site, the group said UI Assistant Vice President for Campus Safety Mark Bullock told them, “Free speech is very important on campus but you have to do it the right way.”

“Convenient for them to be able to pick and choose when and what they are willing to consider free speech,” according to the social media post.

The attempted UI encampment comes as pro-Palestinian groups nationally have been convening on college and university campuses — some growing into the thousands, setting up large campsites and facing off with police officers brandishing batons and clad in bulletproof vests and face shields.

Some campuses have responded with arrests and canceled commencement ceremonies.

Over the weekend at the University of Iowa, another group of peaceful protesters gathered on the Pentacrest during daytime hours — but never set up an encampment or threatened to stay overnight.

Under UI policy, encampments are not allowed and “violations of university policy will not be tolerated.”

“Any behavior that violates applicable law or university policy may be subject to criminal and/or university disciplinary sanctions.”

UI police reported the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Iowa State Patrol helped in their response Monday morning.

Vanessa Miller covers higher education for The Gazette.

Comments: (319) 339-3158; vanessa.miller@thegazette.com