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2024 Virginia Commonwealth University pro-Palestinian campus occupation

2024 Virginia Commonwealth University pro-Palestinian campus occupation
2024 Virginia Commonwealth University pro-Palestinian campus occupation
Part of the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses
	James Branch Cabell Library (PLACEHOLDER)
Date	29 April 2024
Location	Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, U.S.; 37°32′52″N 77°27′11″W / 37.54778°N 77.45306°W
Caused by	Gaza war and solidarity with other 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses
Goals	Disclosure of institutional expenditure; Divestment from Israel; Defense of pro-Palestinian activism on VCU campuses; Declaration of support for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza;
Resulted in	Protest suppressed
Parties
Pro-Palestinian groups: Students for Justice in Palestine at VCU;	Virginia Commonwealth University; VCU Police Department; Richmond Police Department; Virginia State Police;
Casualties
Injuries	Pepper spray to protesters
Arrested	13 protesters (6 students)

On April 29, 2024, pro-Palestinian student protesters at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia built an encampment on campus

Encampment

Around 8:00 a.m. EDT, organizers from the VCU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine established a "liberated zone for Gaza" on the lawn next to James Branch Cabell Library, a central location on VCU's campus.^[1]

Police deployment

At approximately 8:30 p.m.,

Responses

On the night of April 29, Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the protesters at VCU "seem to be well-funded and well-supplied with food, tarps, tents, and pallets", adding, "Once the dust settles, I think we will see this was not entirely a peaceful protest."^[3]^[4]

Early on April 30, Governor Glenn Youngkin stated on X that his administration would continue to fully support law enforcement responses to the ongoing protests on campuses across the state, stating they "violate the policies of our colleges and universities, obstruct and disrupt student life and endanger public safety."^[3]^[5]

VCU President Michael Rao issued a response the morning following the encampment, writing: "While our community cherishes the right to peaceful protest, setting up structures on our campus lawn violated our policy. Our staff respectfully and repeatedly asked individuals to comply. As has happened on other campuses around the country, conflict between police and protesters took place."^[6]

In an open letter released the following day, VCU faculty and staff condemned the university's decision to send police in riot gear to "assault and arrest students and faculty who were protesting peacefully", saying the use of chemical irritants and scale of the response "placed our students, their wellbeing, and their success at this university at risk".^[7] The letter was signed by over 160 individuals associated with VCU, including 86 faculty and staff, and 75 students and alumni.^[8] Alongside the letter, VCU faculty created a petition addressed to President Rao, urging university administration to avoid police and security involvement or taking disciplinary action against students during peaceful demonstrations.^[7] By May 2, the petition had received more than 2,100 signatures.^[9]

Legal proceedings

References

^ ^a ^b Kerley, Andrew; Hagen, Sarah; Glagola, Jack; Wilson, Thailon (May 2, 2024). "'Who do you serve?': Police raze pro-Palestine encampment at VCU, students outraged". The Commonwealth Times. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ Jablonski, Amy; McCormack, Caitlin (April 30, 2024). "VCU 'liberation zone' forcibly torn down by city and state police". The Collegian. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Barnes, Sophia (April 30, 2024). "13 arrested after police, protesters clash at Virginia Commonwealth University over Israel-Hamas war demonstration". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ Earle-Sears, Winsome [@WinsomeSears] (April 29, 2024). "I am told that these protesters seem to be well-funded and well-supplied with food, tarps, tents, and pallets. Once the dust settles, I think we will see this was not entirely a peaceful protest. Parents, law enforcement have been working to ensure the safety of all" (Tweet). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.
^ Elwood, Karina (April 30, 2024). "Police use pepper spray, arrest 13 at VCU pro-Palestinian protest". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ Rao, Michael (April 30, 2024). "A Message from President Rao". VCU News. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ ^a ^b Pauly, Megan (May 1, 2024). "VCU students upset about school's handling of pro-Palestine protest". VPM Media Corporation. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ Tuttle, Marysa (May 1, 2024). "Faculty and staff condemn VCU's decision to deploy police on pro-Palestinian protest on campus". WRIC ABC 8News. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
^ "Support VCU Students' Right to Civic Engagement". Action Network. April 30, 2024. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[CT-1] Kerley, Andrew; Hagen, Sarah; Glagola, Jack; Wilson, Thailon (May 2, 2024). "'Who do you serve?': Police raze pro-Palestine encampment at VCU, students outraged". The Commonwealth Times. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[2] Jablonski, Amy; McCormack, Caitlin (April 30, 2024). "VCU 'liberation zone' forcibly torn down by city and state police". The Collegian. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[NBC4-3] Barnes, Sophia (April 30, 2024). "13 arrested after police, protesters clash at Virginia Commonwealth University over Israel-Hamas war demonstration". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[4] Earle-Sears, Winsome [@WinsomeSears] (April 29, 2024). "I am told that these protesters seem to be well-funded and well-supplied with food, tarps, tents, and pallets. Once the dust settles, I think we will see this was not entirely a peaceful protest. Parents, law enforcement have been working to ensure the safety of all" (Tweet). Retrieved May 1, 2025 – via Twitter.

[WP-5] Elwood, Karina (April 30, 2024). "Police use pepper spray, arrest 13 at VCU pro-Palestinian protest". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[6] Rao, Michael (April 30, 2024). "A Message from President Rao". VCU News. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[VPM-7] Pauly, Megan (May 1, 2024). "VCU students upset about school's handling of pro-Palestine protest". VPM Media Corporation. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[8] Tuttle, Marysa (May 1, 2024). "Faculty and staff condemn VCU's decision to deploy police on pro-Palestinian protest on campus". WRIC ABC 8News. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

[9] "Support VCU Students' Right to Civic Engagement". Action Network. April 30, 2024. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2025.

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