1 person arrested during pro-Palestinian protest at University of Pittsburgh

Lina PortmanJune 3, 2024

1 4 minutes read

LILY, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US AT THIS POINT? Well, hello to both of you. You know, protesters told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that they have no plans to leave anytime soon. THEY ARE STILL HERE. YOU CAN STILL SEE AND HEAR THEM AS THEY SING PERIODICALLY. YOU CAN ALSO STILL SEE THE POLICE IN THE AREA, STILL WORKING TO TRY TO KEEP THINGS UNDER CONTROL. NOW, let's explain how we got here and how this current situation actually played out. Now, as Michelle mentioned, it all started around 6pm last night here on the lawn outside of the Cathedral of Learning on the Pitt campus. THE LARGE GROUP OF PROTESTERS QUICKLY SET UP WOODEN BARRICADES, FENCES, AND TENTS, WHICH THEN LEADED POLICE TO ESTABLISH BARRICADES AROUND THIS ENCAMPMENT IN THE HOPE OF PREVENTING OTHER PEOPLE FROM JOINING. NOW, SOMETIMES THINGS GET VERY, VERY TENSIONED, ESPECIALLY AS PROTESTERS ARE ATTEMPTING TO GET WATER AND OTHER FOODS INSIDE THEIR ENCAMPS. WE NOW KNOW ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED, DONALD JOHNSON, 33 YEARS OLD. HE IS CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED, RESISTING ARREST AND OBSTRUCTION, ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT FROM THE UNIVERSITY. JOHNSON IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH UNIVERSITY CITY. NOW, PROTEST ORGANIZERS HAVE PROVIDED THE UNIVERSITY WITH A LIST OF NINE DEMANDS, INCLUDING DISCLOSURE OF UNIVERSITY INVESTMENTS SUPPORTING PALESTINIAN ACADEMICS AND PROTECTION OF FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS. PROTESTERS TELL US THEY SUPPORT THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND CALL ON THE UNIVERSITY TO CUT ALL TIES WITH ISRAEL OR COMPANIES PROMOTING THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR. EVERY PERSON IN SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINE THAT I SEE BEING BRUTALIZED AND ASSAULTED OR MURDERED OR HANGED OR TORTURED, I FEEL IT. I feel it in my bones, I feel it on my chest, and I feel it in every moment of my life. ON THIS EARTH. PITT POLICE TELL US THEY ALSO WORK WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY COUNTY POLICE AND STATE POLICE. Once again, the police are still there, still a very active scene, as are the protesters, as soon as we have any new details to bring you we will let you know both on the air and online at WTAE DOT COM for the moment. LIVE REPORT FROM OA

1 person arrested during pro-Palestinian protest at University of Pittsburgh

Protesters barricaded themselves in an encampment

A large group of protesters gathered on the University of Pittsburgh campus Sunday evening. Students and community members re-established their encampment, once again calling on the university to take action. The protesters were at the university last May. The scene on Sunday was larger and more measures were taken. University of Pittsburgh police have arrested one person. Monday morning, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 confirmed the suspect was Donald Johnson, 33, of Pittsburgh. Pitt said the person arrested was not affiliated with the university. Johnson was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and obstruction. The protesters did not have permits to gather and were told by police that they were not allowed to bring food or cases of water into the encampment. That’s when the peaceful protest took a turn. Protesters ran past the police, bringing bottles of water one by one. The police then have to intervene, and sometimes get physical. One of those protesters told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that Sunday didn't mark any specific occasion for gathering, they just felt the time was right. “It's deeply painful on an existential, moral and human level, and I think it's beginning to scratch the surface. That's why the students are here tonight, that's why we were here a month ago,” said a Palestinian student. In a statement, the organization behind the protest says it is calling on the university to present nine specific demands: Disclose all university investments Divest the university's finances, including the endowment, from businesses and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine. End all research partnerships with complicit companies Reject the normalization of ties with the Zionist regime Support Palestinians and Palestinian academics Remove the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism from the DCI website Issue a formal apology from the Chancellor Gabel, as well as an acknowledgment of her failure in her duties to protect members of the Pitt community and ensure their rights Call on the DA to drop charges against students arrested for peacefully protesting Ensure protection of the rights of the former amendment The group also calls for the removal of all armed officers on campus.

PITTSBURG —

A large group of protesters gathered on the University of Pittsburgh campus Sunday evening.

Students and community members re-established their encampment, once again calling on the university to take action. The protesters were at the university last May. The scene on Sunday was larger and more measures were taken.

University of Pittsburgh police have arrested one person.

Monday morning, Pittsburgh's Action News 4 confirmed the suspect was Donald Johnson, 33, of Pittsburgh.

Pitt said the person arrested was not affiliated with the university.

Johnson was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and obstruction.

The protesters did not have permits to gather and were told by police that they were not allowed to bring food or cases of water into the encampment. That’s when the peaceful protest took a turn. Protesters ran past the police, bringing bottles of water one by one. The police then have to intervene, and sometimes get physical. One of those protesters told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that Sunday didn't mark any specific occasion for gathering, they just felt the time was right.

“It's deeply painful on an existential, moral and human level, and I think it's beginning to scratch the surface. That's why the students are here tonight, that's why we were here a month ago,” said a Palestinian student.

In a statement, the organization behind the protest says it is calling on the university to present nine specific demands:

Disclose all university investments
Divest university finances, including endowments, from corporations and institutions that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine.
End all research partnerships with complicit companies
Reject the normalization of ties with the Zionist regime
Supporting Palestinians and Palestinian Academics
Remove IHRA definition of anti-Semitism from DEI website
Delivering a formal apology from Chancellor Gabel, as well as an acknowledgment of her failure in her duties to protect members of the Pitt community and ensure their rights.
Call on the DA to drop charges against students arrested for peacefully protesting
Ensuring the Protection of First Amendment Rights

The group also calls for the removal of all armed officers on campus.