University of Pennsylvania president Amy Gutmann ended up joining student protesters in a “die-in” yesterday after they crashed a holiday party at her home.
The protesters carried signs which said “Black Lives Matter” and “No PILOTS, No Peace,” the latter a reference to demands that the college “donate” money to the cash-strapped Philadelphia School District.
Although President Gutmann participated in the “die-in,” she held firm on the money demands.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
“Students are trying to hold Penn accountable,” said Daniel Cooper Bermudez, 21, a senior political science major who lives in Philadelphia.
The party was scheduled for 6 to 7 p.m., and the protest began about 6:20, said Harry Cooperman, city news editor for the Daily Pennsylvanian, the campus newspaper.
Adrian Rios, 21, a senior international relations major from East Los Angeles, Calif., described the affair as “extravagant and disheartening,” with fake snow and “nonstop food.” He said about 50 protesters went to the party and were joined by about 50 attendees in the protest.
Gutmann told students, “Black lives matter – all lives matter. Black lives have not been served the way I and others would like them to be served,” according to the Daily Pennsylvanian.
When talk turned to PILOTs, Gutmann defended Penn’s position, noting its many contributions, including funding the Penn Alexander elementary school. Some students cut her off.
“A lot of us are very tired of hearing the same thing,” Bermudez said.
Gutmann eventually stopped trying to address the students and walked among them for a bit before leaving, Bermudez and Rios said.
The students left the (crashed) party peacefully at its conclusion.
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