Western Washington University administration set a deadline of Thursday, May 30 for protesters at the pro-Palestine encampment on Old Main to pack up the camp.
It’s been nearly two weeks since protesters set up the camp to press the university to divest from companies they say are linked to Israeli violence against Palestinians, among other demands. The encampment has now grown to more than 70 tents.
On Tuesday, May 28, more than 100 students gathered on the steps of Old Main for a rally to support student negotiators.
Western administrators and encampment leaders met at noon today to attempt to reach an agreement, both parties confirmed to CDN. Western Director of Communications Jonathan Higgins confirmed the deadline for protesters to clear out and said the two parties were currently meeting, but did not comment further.
The rally included student and faculty speakers, mostly focused on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and insisting the university agree to student demands. Protesters chanted “disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest” and “free, free Palestine” as student negotiators headed into Old Main for the meeting.
Other protesters followed them into the building to sit in the hallway outside the negotiating room.
Organizers told CDN on Thursday, May 23 that administrators were taking their concerns seriously, but had not yet presented an adequate proposal to meet their demands.
In social media posts on Monday, the coalition of student organizers posted administrators “continue to stonewall our demand negotiations” and that the administration had sent them a “regressive and disappointing draft of an agreement” on Saturday. CDN has not been able to verify details of a draft agreement.
The protesters are also asking for Western to acknowledge harm and correct wrongs to Arab students in its response to the war in Gaza; full financial disclosure of investments in companies connected to Israel; investment in community by ensuring the launch of the ethnic studies program; and an emergency Board of Trustees meeting to meet the demands.
More than 36,000 Palestinians have died in Israel’s attack on Gaza since Oct. 7, when militant group Hamas attacked Israel and killed 1,200 Israelis, according to the Associated Press.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
