UW-Madison protest: Officers hurt, at least a dozen people arrested

MADISON, Wis. - At least a dozen people were taken into custody on Wednesday, May 1 as UW-Madison police started removing tents from the encampment on Library Mall, according to NBC 15. 

Police officers were seen removing tents and ordering student demonstrators to clear out around 7 a.m. In response, students formed a barrier around the encampment, linking arms. The students were heard chanting, "disclose, divest", which is part of their demands from the university.

Student demonstrators, who are part of the group Students for Justice in Palestine, set up the encampment on Monday morning.

NBC 15 reports that several students remained in the tents overnight on both Monday and Tuesday, despite violating Chapter 18 of the UW System Administrative Code.

UWPD Executive Director of Communications Marc Lovicott told NBC 15 that three Dane County deputies were injured due to physical resistance. He said a state trooper was also hurt when a protester struck the trooper in the head with a skateboard.

Around 11:30 a.m., about two dozen tents were put back up in Library Mall. 

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Reaction

State Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-19)

"I stand with the UW-Madison student organizers who established an encampment on campus. Chancellor Mnookin calling in a police force to dismantle the peaceful encampment early this morning was an unnecessary escalation that flies in the face of the values the university claims to uphold. Both encampments are places of learning, solidarity, and joy. I am grateful that UWM Chancellor Mone has committed to giving the encampment there sufficient advance notice if he chooses to mobilize police against the encampment. The same law that prohibits camping also prohibits picnics, which happen in these exact same spaces on a near daily basis during warm weather. The decision to enforce this policy- and how to enforce-is entirely up to the discretion of Chancellors. "

Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman

 "The free exchange of ideas through open dialogue and debate is a hallmark of the Universities of Wisconsin. We support the First Amendment and the right to free expression – including through legal protest – and we continue to uphold these ideals, even in the face of difficult and competing demands. 

 "We commit to upholding free speech rights while simultaneously upholding the law and our mission to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of our community.  

 "UW-Madison took action to ensure compliance with applicable law and in fulfillment of its commitment to all students and the campus community. I commend Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin for her reasonableness and resolve, as well as her commitment to free expression and the safety and security of her students." 

ACLU of WI Executive Director Dr. Melinda Q. Brennan

"Responding to peaceful acts of dissent with militarized police is dangerous and only makes things worse. Too often in situations like this, we’ve seen police behave recklessly, violate the law, and endanger people gathered at protests and acts of civil disobedience.

"Inviting armed police into a campus protest environment can create unacceptable risks for all students, faculty, and staff. University officials must also be aware of the history of law enforcement using inappropriate and excessive force on communities of color, including Black, Brown, and immigrant students. Moreover, arresting peaceful protestors is also likely to escalate, not calm, the tensions on campus — as events of the past week have made abundantly clear. 

"Non-violent, peaceful acts of civil disobedience have always been an instrumental part of social movements, and students should not be sanctioned for them, much less subjected to excessive, hostile policing, or destruction of their property."

WMTV Madison contributed to this report.