Protesters supporting Palestine started a new camp at Drexel University in Philadelphia last weekend, leading to a lockdown of campus buildings. This followed an unsuccessful attempt to occupy a building at the nearby University of Pennsylvania.
According to Drexel President John Fry, up to 60 protesters gathered on the Korman Quad on Sunday. Fry mentioned that most demonstrators were not affiliated with the university and said efforts were underway to resolve the protest.
Fry expressed concerns about disruptions to university operations and reports of antisemitic language and signs from some protesters.
Students carry a sign in the protest (Via Kat West/Shutterstock)
He emphasized the need to end the encampment and stated that Drexel was collaborating with local officials and police for campus safety.
The protest at Drexel, which has approximately 22,000 students, began after hundreds of demonstrators marched from City Hall to West Philadelphia on Saturday. On Sunday, a dozen tents were surrounded by barricades and monitored by police, with no arrests reported. Access to university buildings was restricted to those authorized by security.
Earlier, members of Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine had called for action at the University of Pennsylvania’s Fisher-Bennett Hall on Friday night, encouraging supporters to bring noise-makers and flags.
