Student sit-ins in solidarity with Palestine spread from UK to US

After a number of successful sit-ins at British universities calling for divestment from Israeli apartheid, students in the US have taken up the cause as well. The University of Rochester, in New York, is the first to declare success after a sit-in at the University Administration building.

The University of Rochester sit-in consisted of a number of groups, including Students For a Democratic Society (SDS), the Campus Antiwar Network (CAN) and community members. They made a number of demands to the university administration: that university divest from corporations that manufacturer weapons and profit from the siege; commit to fundraising humanitarian aid for Gaza; donate extra computers and books to students and educational institutions in Gaza; and provide scholarships for Palestinian students.

At first, the students were simply engaging in a teach-in on the issues, but when the time ran out for their event, they remained in the building and began to occupy the Administration headquarters. The University administration then demanded that the students would be punished for remaining in the building overnight.

The group added to their demands that no punitive action be taken against participating students. After open negotiations with a Dean of the University, the Dean agreed to help organize a public forum with the University of Rochester investors, SDS and the community on University of Rochester investment policy and University investment in Israel; that the University of Rochester commit resources and provide any needed information for a campus-wide fund drive for Palestine; that the University of Rochester work to assess needs in Gaza and donate surplus supplies to universities such as computers, books...etc.; and that the University commit to reaching out to Palestinians with international student scholarships.

When the Dean agreed to the demands, students and community supporters declared victory and ended their sit-in. Organizers made note that their sit-in, the first of its kind in the US, has brought the British student sit-in model to the US. Kristin Wierman, of CAN, explained that organizers not only want to spread the model throughout Rochester, but are “hoping to inspire and spread this movement across the US”

Tuesday February 17, 2009 03:52author by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News Report