“While this encampment is unprecedented at UConn, our goal today is not solely to ‘make history’ but to end UConn’s complicity in the genocide of our siblings in Gaza,” UConn Divest said in a statement when the encampment was first established. “We center Gaza in our hearts and mind.”

Israeli officials and their supporters have repeatedly denied accusations of genocide, arguing that the nation’s attacks on Gaza are necessary to defend Israel after Hamas terrorists that killed 1,200 Israelis and took more than 100 hostages on Oct. 7.

UConn students followed Yale in launching an ongoing protest encampment on April 24, occupying the space between the rec center and business school on the Storrs campus and calling it the “UCommune” at Dove Tower. They initially attempted to pitch tents, which were taken by police and one person, a graduate student, was arrested. Protesters subsequently slept outside in freezing cold temperatures in sleeping bags, awaking to study, share food, discussions and even yoga throughout the day.

When rain fell two nights ago, protesters again pitched tents in violation of the school’s stated policy on the protest.

Student organizers said 23 protesters were arrested.

Sen. Saud Anwar issued a statement calling on UConn President Radenka Maric, who has yet to speak on the issue, to drop the charges against students and allow the exercise of the First Amendment.

“I was discouraged to hear that peaceful student protesters have been arrested at UConn. Our First Amendment protects the right of Americans to peacefully speak freely without fear of government retaliation,” Anwar said in a statement. “The charges against non-violent student protesters should be dropped and I hope UConn President Maric will protect her students’ right to peacefully protest. Regardless of our individual views on any number of issues, as Americans we must always fight for each other’s right to free speech.”

At Columbia University, where a student encampment on April 18 sparked a rash of demonstrations across the country and the world, the campus was put on lockdown after protesters began occupying a campus building Tuesday morning. The school ordered protesters to deconstruct and leave the encampment there on Monday and has begun suspending students, according to NPR.

At around 8 a.m. student demonstrators at Yale announced that the police had “taken over the encampment.” Photos and videos posted by protesters on social media showed police tape closing off the encampment and the area surrounding Cross Campus.

Students at the universities are demonstrating in support of Palestinians being killed, displaced and enduring famine as a result of Israel’s war against Hamas, calling the onslaught a genocide. Wesleyan University students also established a demonstration on the Middletown campus on April 28.

University administrators have refused to negotiate with student organizers. University officials met with student representatives Monday afternoon, but Reitz said it was only for a “care and concern” check-in.

“The purpose was to ask them how they were doing and make sure they had a clear understanding of the university’s policies and practices, especially since there were follow-up questions after UConn’s initial communication on Friday,” Reitz said. “The students were told in advance that it was a “care and concern” check-in, and not a meeting to negotiate anything. Despite this, the students who attended stated they were there to negotiate their “demands.” University staff reiterated that was not the purpose of the meeting, and the students departed.”

In a Yale University statement April 17, the university said it would not disinvest from military weaponry because “authorized sales did not meet the threshold of grave social injury, a prerequisite for divestment, because this manufacturing supports socially necessary uses, such as law enforcement and national security.”

Likewise, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik said that university “will not divest from Israel,” according to the Columbia Daily Specter.

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