James Hoeck

^Photographer

University of Illinois Encampment for Justice in Palestine

Banners, rain gear and other materials being utilized to protest the conflict in Palestine within Gaza are scattered around the ground and tree, looking off to a crowd of demonstrators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Alma Matter Statue located in Urbana, Ill. Students call to protest the University for its investments funding organizations that provide to the Israeli military and government, as well as an arrest of a protestor made in the morning.

As conflict between Palestine and Israel rises, and the immense death from strikes within the Gaza strip of Palestine from Israel Defense Force. Many of the atrocities were deemed inhumane, genocide and war crimes. In response, University advocators across the nation take action through the placement of encampments on college grounds. The demonstration calls for University administrators to divest from organizations funded that provide monetary support to weapon development for Israel.

On April 26, 2024, campus demonstrators at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign took a stance against the University, setting up an encampment site around the school’s Alma Mater statue located in Urbana, Ill.

During the morning of their protest, one demonstrator was taken into custody. As the news spread of the arrest, students and demonstrator gathered at the Alma Mater statue, rekindling the protest initially started in the morning.

The encampment went on for several hours, and as the crowd and tents grew, so did the police presence, as University police called in reinforcement from county police. As the demonstration continued, tension with University administrators and police grew leading to a clash between protestors and police as they forced their way into the crowd of demonstrators in an attempt to take down their tents. The attempt to take down the tents did not succeed due to the amount of individuals defending the tents on the site.

After the University Police’s initial attempt to take down the tents, they did not intervene in another attempt. However, after the first clash took place, anxiety and tension spread throughout the crowd of protestors as the night continued — with the contribution of another arrest made increasing worry and rumors across the demonstrators.

Rain soon hit down hard on the site of the encampment. With the weather changes and the scenes taken place within the day, protestors gathered their material for the night with a plan to continue the encampment on another day with further preparation.

Protestors link arms to protect the tents as police begin to force their way through the crowd to dismantle propped up tents.

A University police officer navigates his way through the crowd of demonstrators to take down the encampment utilizing a baton.

A demonstrator braces as police attempt to break down the tents set up by the Alma Mater statue.

A police vehicle sits idle on the University’s Main Quad, located close by the site of the encampment.

A demonstrator sits on the rain right before prayer is takes place at the encampment while a brief speech is being held.

Tents begin to accumulate in numbers as protestors continue to build more by the Alma Mater statue.

A protestor holds a sign stating “Only liberation can bring peace! Free Palestine” in front of a barricade made up of students and demonstrators.

University police roll in flood lights to illuminate the demonstrators later in the evening.

Protestors speak with Vice Chancellor Jim Hintz. Hintz tells the demonstrators that they must take down tents at the site or else police intervention will take place.

Advocators form a circle linking arms while other protestors hold up a Palestinian flag and signs at the encampment site as the protest continues on throughout the afternoon.

A demonstrator wraps a keffiyeh around a student at the encampment. Many protestors at Alma Mater obscured their faces with masks or keffiyehs.

Umbrellas lay on the ground as demonstrators begin to open umbrellas to form a barricade to block off the encampment.

A University police officer stares at the crowd of protesters as he prepares to take down tends behind the barricade.

A University police officer breaks the umbrella of a protestor as conflict arises between the two as demonstrators push back the police department to defend the encampment.

Police detain protestor Christoper Zelle outside the Illini Union building, located aside the encampment.

Protestors form a fence of umbrellas as the encampment continues into the night. The demonstration wrapped up as rain continued to come down harder. After the initial organization starting at 5 a.m. and reconvening approximately 2:30 p.m. the demonstration went on to continue till around 10:40 p.m.

You can learn more about the University of Illinois SJP Divestment Encampment at TheDailyIllini.com and in “Volume 131 Illio — Renaissance”

Illinois College Press Association — First Place, Photo Essay
“Gallery | Day 1 Recap: Palestine encampment rekindles after hiatus”