BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Authorities arrested more than 30 protestors calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on Indiana University’s campus in Bloomington Thursday afternoon.
The Indiana State Police and Indiana University Police were called to Dunn Meadow Park around 11 a.m. as a contingent of protestors gathered on campus to call attention to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues.
IUPD said in a news release shortly after 8 p.m. that authorities arrived to disperse a growing crowd of protestors that had placed tents and canopies as part of their planned protest. The statement added that this violated IU’s policy restricting .
This university violation was reportedly communicated to the protestors during the morning and afternoon, IUPD said. The protestors were also informed that they would have been allowed to remain in Dunn Meadow if they removed the structures, according to IUPD.
At one point, a heavy police presence consisting of ISP troopers donning riot gear and IUPD officers monitored the tense situation as nearly 100 protestors and counter-protestors gathered at the park on IU’s campus.
The release stated that the protestors were “advised to leave the area” after allegedly refusing to take down the temporary structures.
Officers on the scene reportedly made one final request at 3:46 p.m. for the crowd to remove the tents and canopies. Around 10 minutes later, IUPD said officers proceeded to arrest the individuals who did not remove the structures.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies had at least 33 individuals boarded on a bus who were being transported to the Monroe County Justice Center. Officials confirmed that the majority of the individuals were arrested by ISP troopers who also assisted at the scene.
It is unknown if any of the individuals arrested are students.
14 protestors were also arrested Thursday morning in Indianapolis after blocking Meridian Street between 46thand 49thstreets near the governor’s residence.
Reaction
Indiana University administrators are now facing criticism for reportedly changing its policy the day before Thursday’s protests to ban the use of structures without prior approval, permitting protestors to be arrested if they did not comply with the rule change.
The ACLU released a statement Friday criticizing IU’s change of policy as IU defended its handling of the situation by stating that the changes were posted online and at Dunn Meadow Wednesday morning warning protestors that overnight campus ground occupation would not be allowed.
In an email obtained by FOX59/CBS4 that was sent to faculty, IU President Pamela Whitten said, “The change was posted online and at Dunn Meadow this (Wednesday) morning, and participants were told repeatedly that they were free to stay and protest, but that any tent would need to be dismantled.”
The university has had a policy in place since 1969 that has allowed protestors to use temporary structures in Dunn Meadow without needing any prior approval, as long as the structures were disbanded from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The revised policy, which was approved by an “Ad Hoc Committee”, was used to prevent protestors from erecting temporary or permanent structures without prior approval from the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life and University Events.
IU in its message to protestors pointed to the institution’s need to “make recommendations that would best enable us to balance free speech and safety in the context of similar protests occurring nationally.”
The new policy also referenced a portion of the original 1969 policy featuring a provision permitting the provost to create a committee to “address specific changes that may be needed to the policy.”
Indiana lawmakers have also weighed in on the developing situation in Bloomington, with State Sen. Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) calling IU’s decision to change its existing policy on Wednesday “as justification to arrest peaceful protestors and ban them from campus property for a year.”
Sen. Yoder’s full statement can be read below:
I am deeply concerned with the arrests of students, staff and faculty for exercising their First Amendment rights in Dunn Meadow on IU Bloomington’s campus. Bringing Indiana State Police officers in militarized riot equipment to monitor and disperse peaceful protestors has further escalated tensions.
“The widely reported change in policy regarding tents and structures by IU’s Administration on the eve of these protests—which was then used as justification to arrest peaceful protestors and ban them from campus property for a year—is incredibly disturbing. Free speech is only protected for all when there are clear and consistent rules enforced—not when rules are changed overnight and established processes are ignored.
“The rights to peaceful assembly, free speech and due process are guaranteed by our Constitution and have been historically upheld by our university. I strongly urge the IU Administration to protect the First Amendment rights of students, staff and faculty, with whom I stand in solidarity.”
State Sen. Shelli Yoder
State Sen. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) also shared his thoughts on the arrests, statingthat IU has “betrayed more than 50 years of support for free expression on campus” by arresting over 30 students.”
An Indiana University spokesperson shared the following statement with FOX59/CBS4 following Thursday’s events.
Indiana University Bloomington is a campus where we encourage and respect free speech and open dialogue. To ensure the safety and security of the IU community and to avoid disruption of university operations, expressive activity must be conducted in accordance with university free speech and events policies. This includes the enforcement of policies that require advanced approval for the installation of temporary structures.
Indiana University
