The College Fix

Well, imagine that. When you threaten demonstrating students who refuse to leave a campus building with arrest for trespassing — they leave!

That’s what happened last night at the University of Vermont, where hundreds of students left a sit-in over racial unrest after campus cops gave them a warning: get out or get arrested.

The daylong protest and occupation concluded at around 9:30 p.m. despite pledges to “sleep here” and calls to “bring sleeping bags.”

The entire event was chronicled by The Vermont Cynic campus newspaper on Twitter:

NoNames for Justice prepares for negotiations between “student leaders” and president Tom Sullivan, tell newcomers to bring sleeping bags pic.twitter.com/QPHvG3leYF

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 26, 2018

Update: negotiations have officially begun in Waterman

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 26, 2018

Of the seven colleges at the university, the deans of Rubenstein and Arts and Sciences have signed the support for NoNames for Justice’s demands and five have not

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 26, 2018

“We’re waiting on negotiations. We are prepared to sleep here,” said sophomore Jordan Ciccone, a member of NoNames for Justice.

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 26, 2018

Then cops drop the hammer:

UVM Police Services Officer Jordan Barriere to students and protestors in Waterman:

“At 10 p.m. the building is closing down. Anyone who remains in the building will be arrested.”

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 27, 2018

“We are not staying here overnight,” said Harmony Edosomwan. pic.twitter.com/hhJ7zAKBik

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 27, 2018

Student protesters begin to leave Waterman, having been there since this morning. pic.twitter.com/1n2VMosZHd

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 27, 2018

Z McCarron:

“At this point we are entering the negotiation phase without any further action planned… We’ll see how negotiations go.”

— The Vermont Cynic (@VermontCynic) February 27, 2018

So what are the protesters freaking out about, anyway? Reportedly some flyers left by possible trolls with phrases such as “Innocent Lives Matter Not Guilty Ones” and “’White Privelaged [sic] And Proud of It.”

Cue indignant outrage and long list of demands for diversity and inclusion concessions. The College Fix has previously reported on the protests, which have been ongoing.

IMAGE: Shutterstock

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