Local elementary school canceled recess due to safety concerns: report
A new report from DePaul University documents more than 1,000 complaints against the pro-Palestinian encampment on its Chicago campus, including violent threats and a nearby elementary school’s decision to cancel recess.
University President Robert Manuel said in a statement administrators called police Thursday to clear the encampment after weeks of “unsuccessful” negotiations with the protesters.
Some of the pro-Palestinian protesters caused “the disruption of university operations, interference with student learning, and safety threats to individuals and the public,” Manuel said.
DePaul received more than 1,000 registered complaints about the protesters, including a death threat and credible threats of violence, according to a report on the university website.
The report includes some of the “many social media posts, images, data and quotes that exemplify the escalation of the impact of the encampment on DePaul’s Lincoln Park quad from a peaceful protest to an unsafe and intimidating environment for all DePaul and local community members.”
DePaul’s two-week long pro-Palestinian tent city was cleared out this morning by Chicago. pic.twitter.com/6phd8h4UVu
— The College Fix (@CollegeFix) May 16, 2024
According to DePaul, the “data and images demonstrate the inability of the university to carry on normal, safe campus operations and also demonstrate hateful, discriminatory and intimidating signs and actions.”
As of May 15, the university reported receiving more than 625 complaints from neighbors and community members. Among them was a local elementary school that canceled its recess and outdoor activities due to safety concerns, according to the report.
More than 425 additional reports came from students, faculty, staff, and parents, the report states.
One report from a student to Public Safety states “she was followed through the Quad where she overheard ‘I want to kill her’ and ‘I want to rape her;’ handed Quarans (including one that smelled like vinegar); threatened with a fight; told ‘You’re Jewish scum, you do not deserve this;’ and then she began to cry.”
In another report, the parent of a Jewish student said her son does not feel safe on campus anymore after a group of masked protesters encircled him and other Jewish students “chanting, yelling, and pushing while not allowing them to escape.”
An unnamed student also reported: “Imagine being 18 years old and hearing people screaming and chanting for your death on campus and having them have more freedom of speech than you do because they have no fear.”
Meanwhile, the university reported an estimated $180,000 in damages to the quad and surrounding areas, including spray paint on buildings and doors, dumpsters used to block building entrances, chained and locked doors, the removal of safety grates, and damaged windows.
Photos from the university’s report show “Zioinsts aren’t welcomed here” and “Down with Israel” written on brick walls. Other images include a protester holding a flag with the image of a Hamas leader, and a pellet gun and knives found at the protest site.
All incidents either have been reported to the Chicago Police Department or are being investigated by the Dean of Students, according to DePaul.
MORE: ‘Everything You Know About Palestine is Wrong’ event at UCLA draws outrage
IMAGE: DePaul University
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