BLACKSBURG, Va. (WDBJ) – Virginia Tech Police started removing protesters from an on-campus protest Sunday night, saying the protesters are trespassing.
VT Alerts (NRV): Heavy police activity around Graduate Life Center. Urgent. Please avoid the area. Call 911 for help.
— Virginia Tech (@virginia_tech) April 29, 2024
The university used social media to urge the public to avoid the area of the Graduate Life Center, where police had been monitoring the protest, and late Sunday, removed several students from the protest.
Several protesters could be heard yelling at police, “Shame on you!” and “Let him go!” after each protester was removed. Observers indicate the protest has been non-violent.
Police gave several warnings Sunday, telling protesters they would be arrested if they didn’t disperse, and started detaining protesters around 10 p.m.
The university released the following statement Sunday night:
On Friday morning, protestors began to occupy the lawn of the Graduate Life Center. Virginia Tech officials informed the protestors that the gathering was in violation of University Policy 5000 (University Facilities Usage and Events). Virginia Tech values free speech and the protestors’ right to be heard, but only if the rights of others and public safety can be assured.
Through constant dialogue between university officials, the Virginia Tech Police Department, and protest organizers, we were able to maintain a safe and peaceful environment through much of the weekend.
As Sunday progressed, protestors continued to refuse to comply with policy and took further steps to occupy the lawn of the Graduate Life Center and outdoor spaces next to Squires Student Center. Given these actions by protesters, the university recognized that the situation had the increasing potential to become unsafe.
Those who gathered were advised by university officials to remove their possessions and to disperse voluntarily; those who failed to comply were then approached by Virginia Tech Police and were again asked to leave and advised that anyone who failed to comply would be charged with trespassing, in accordance with Virginia law.
At approximately 10:15 p.m., police approached protesters to ask them to disperse within five minutes. Those who remained were subject to arrest.
In the interest of public safety, the university issued a VT Alerts at approximately 10:15 p.m. asking members of the community to avoid the area.
For the safety and welfare of all students, faculty and staff, Virginia Tech requires that all members of its community comply with all university policies and the Code of Virginia.
The students, numbering what appeared to be more than a thousand as of late Sunday night, according to WDBJ reporters at the scene, started gathering Friday to protest the loss of Palestinian and civilian lives during the war in Gaza.
Earlier Sunday evening, apparent protest leaders met with Virginia Tech and VT Police representatives. It was unclear what was said, according to WDBJ7 reporters, but the conversation ended in a handshake and a chorus of cheers by protestors as campus leaders walked away.
Student protestors have three demands: divest, condemn, and acknowledge.
Students say they want the university to be more transparent on endowments, funding given to non-profits. Since the university is not required to disclose from whom it receives funding, students want to know if the university is receiving funds from companies promoting the war in Gaza.
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