A group of protesters knocked down barriers surrounding a pro-Palestinian encampment on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus Monday evening, just hours after the school ordered students to clear the encampment that had been set up on the Cambridge campus. In a message shared Monday night, MIT President Salley Kornbluth, MIT Executive Vice President and Treasurer Glen Shor and MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles stated that they began the day with another round of discussions with student leaders from the encampment.”It quickly became clear that their primary demand had not changed and that we would not be able to reach an agreement,” the message read.Mohamed Mohamed, who is part of the “Scientists Against Genocide” protest at MIT, told NewsCenter 5 that he and his fellow protesters are calling upon the school’s administration to cut financial ties and technology programs with Israel.MIT leaders said that at midday Monday, Student Life staff handed a written advisory to students to make it clear that if they did not leave the encampment by 2:30 p.m., they would face discipline. Students who participated in the protest were ordered to swipe their identification as they left the encampment and were told they would receive a written warning. Those who led the protest or who have pending cases on related issues will be referred to MIT’s Committee on Discipline.The written advisory said those who do not leave voluntarily before the deadline would face immediate interim academic suspension and referral to MIT’s Committee on Discipline, among other penalties. Those who have another related case would also not be allowed to reside on campus or eat in MIT dining halls. MIT leaders said that by 2:30 p.m., most students had left the enclosed tent area, but they noted that five remained in the encampment and that many students were still gathered outside the barrier set up around the Kresge Oval, where the encampment had been set up. Video from Sky5 showed a brief scuffle happening between the protesters and law enforcement officers near the barrier around the encampment.MIT leaders said a large number of outside demonstrators came onto the campus due in part to a call on social media made to students in the Greater Boston area to join MIT students in their protest, as well as a planned public protest.According to MIT leaders, Cambridge police officers and Massachusetts State Police troopers were present to help MIT police manage the crowd.At about 6 p.m., an individual jumped over the fencing that surrounds the encampment, an act that MIT leaders said caused a surge and resulted in the area being breached.MIT leaders said that as of Monday night, about 150 students and others were standing in a circle around the tents while others chanted nearby.School officials said no one had been arrested in connection with the incidents on campus as of Monday night.An MIT spokesperson stated that the campus, Cambridge, and state police remain at the scene in an effort to preserve public safety.”We have much work still to do to resolve the situation, and will continue to communicate as needed,” reads the message from MIT leadership.MIT added the barriers around the Kresge Oval last week. The fencing was covered in a green barrier, and some Israeli flags and other signs were seen hanging outside. Last week, Kornbluth said in a message to the school community that she met with student leaders from the encampment.”I stressed repeatedly that my chief concern is the physical safety of everyone at MIT, and I urged them to work with us in finding a thoughtful way to end this situation,” Kornbluth wrote. Kornbluth’s message also described the encampment’s “potential to turn our campus into a magnet” for protesters who may not be affiliated with the university. She said it happened Wednesday when more than 150 people gathered on Mass Ave., blocking streets during rush hour. A counter-protest rally supporting Israel blocked the busy road again on Friday.Rep. Lori Trahan, a Democrat whose district includes parts of northeastern and central Massachusetts, spoke about the recent series of campus protests during an interview for Sunday’s episode of WCVB’s On The Record.”What happened on Oct. 7, with Hamas killing over 1,000 innocent civilians, taking hundreds more hostage, is unacceptable. In addition, how the war has been prosecuted has been equally heartbreaking with so many Palestinian civilians dying,” she said. “I believe the goal should be, we have to get the hostages home, we have to end the violence.”Trahan said she hoped a ceasefire could be reached, allowing more hostages to be returned home and emphasized that protests should remain peaceful. “We have seen instances where that protest has been weaponized against Jewish students. It’s been calling for the mass killing of Jews who support Israel. We’ve seen the destruction of property meant to intimidate people who don’t agree with them, and that has no place in our society,” she said. Meanwhile, a large group of protesters gathered on the steps of the Rogers Building at 77 Massachusetts Ave., which serves as MIT’s main entrance, at about 4 p.m. Monday.A number of law enforcement officers were spotted near the doorways into the Rogers Building, including MIT police, Cambridge police and state police.The group of protesters then made their way into the middle of Massachusetts Avenue and continued to protest by sitting in the middle of the roadway.Cambridge police said the section of Massachusetts Avenue between Memorial Drive and Vassar Street was closed to motor vehicle traffic for approximately four hours due to the protest in the street.Also in Cambridge, student protesters at Harvard University were warned that they could be suspended if they did not leave the encampment on that campus. Tents had been set up near the John Harvard Stature for more than a week and a half.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. —
A group of protesters knocked down barriers surrounding a pro-Palestinian encampment on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus Monday evening, just hours after the school ordered students to clear the encampment that had been set up on the Cambridge campus.
In a message shared Monday night, MIT President Salley Kornbluth, MIT Executive Vice President and Treasurer Glen Shor and MIT Chancellor Melissa Nobles stated that they began the day with another round of discussions with student leaders from the encampment.
“It quickly became clear that their primary demand had not changed and that we would not be able to reach an agreement,” the message read.
Mohamed Mohamed, who is part of the “Scientists Against Genocide” protest at MIT, told NewsCenter 5 that he and his fellow protesters are calling upon the school’s administration to cut financial ties and technology programs with Israel.
MIT leaders said that at midday Monday, Student Life staff handed a written advisory to students to make it clear that if they did not leave the encampment by 2:30 p.m., they would face discipline.
Students who participated in the protest were ordered to swipe their identification as they left the encampment and were told they would receive a written warning. Those who led the protest or who have pending cases on related issues will be referred to MIT’s Committee on Discipline.
The written advisory said those who do not leave voluntarily before the deadline would face immediate interim academic suspension and referral to MIT’s Committee on Discipline, among other penalties. Those who have another related case would also not be allowed to reside on campus or eat in MIT dining halls.
MIT leaders said that by 2:30 p.m., most students had left the enclosed tent area, but they noted that five remained in the encampment and that many students were still gathered outside the barrier set up around the Kresge Oval, where the encampment had been set up.
Video from Sky5 showed a brief scuffle happening between the protesters and law enforcement officers near the barrier around the encampment.
MIT leaders said a large number of outside demonstrators came onto the campus due in part to a call on social media made to students in the Greater Boston area to join MIT students in their protest, as well as a planned public protest.
According to MIT leaders, Cambridge police officers and Massachusetts State Police troopers were present to help MIT police manage the crowd.
At about 6 p.m., an individual jumped over the fencing that surrounds the encampment, an act that MIT leaders said caused a surge and resulted in the area being breached.
MIT leaders said that as of Monday night, about 150 students and others were standing in a circle around the tents while others chanted nearby.
School officials said no one had been arrested in connection with the incidents on campus as of Monday night.
An MIT spokesperson stated that the campus, Cambridge, and state police remain at the scene in an effort to preserve public safety.
“We have much work still to do to resolve the situation, and will continue to communicate as needed,” reads the message from MIT leadership.
MIT added the barriers around the Kresge Oval last week. The fencing was covered in a green barrier, and some Israeli flags and other signs were seen hanging outside.
Last week, Kornbluth said in a message to the school community that she met with student leaders from the encampment.
“I stressed repeatedly that my chief concern is the physical safety of everyone at MIT, and I urged them to work with us in finding a thoughtful way to end this situation,” Kornbluth wrote.
Kornbluth’s message also described the encampment’s “potential to turn our campus into a magnet” for protesters who may not be affiliated with the university. She said it happened Wednesday when more than 150 people gathered on Mass Ave., blocking streets during rush hour.
A counter-protest rally supporting Israel blocked the busy road again on Friday.
Rep. Lori Trahan, a Democrat whose district includes parts of northeastern and central Massachusetts, spoke about the recent series of campus protests during an interview for Sunday’s episode of WCVB’s On The Record.
“What happened on Oct. 7, with Hamas killing over 1,000 innocent civilians, taking hundreds more hostage, is unacceptable. In addition, how the war has been prosecuted has been equally heartbreaking with so many Palestinian civilians dying,” she said. “I believe the goal should be, we have to get the hostages home, we have to end the violence.”
Trahan said she hoped a ceasefire could be reached, allowing more hostages to be returned home and emphasized that protests should remain peaceful.
“We have seen instances where that protest has been weaponized against Jewish students. It’s been calling for the mass killing of Jews who support Israel. We’ve seen the destruction of property meant to intimidate people who don’t agree with them, and that has no place in our society,” she said.
Meanwhile, a large group of protesters gathered on the steps of the Rogers Building at 77 Massachusetts Ave., which serves as MIT’s main entrance, at about 4 p.m. Monday.
A number of law enforcement officers were spotted near the doorways into the Rogers Building, including MIT police, Cambridge police and state police.
The group of protesters then made their way into the middle of Massachusetts Avenue and continued to protest by sitting in the middle of the roadway.
Cambridge police said the section of Massachusetts Avenue between Memorial Drive and Vassar Street was closed to motor vehicle traffic for approximately four hours due to the protest in the street.
Also in Cambridge, student protesters at Harvard University were warned that they could be suspended if they did not leave the encampment on that campus. Tents had been set up near the John Harvard Stature for more than a week and a half.