SACRAMENTO, Calif — Protestors are occupying the library quad at Sacramento State University for a fifth day as a pro-Palestine demonstration continues.
Nearly 60 hours into the protest, students and community members inside the encampment said they would stay until their demands were met. Demonstrations have remained peaceful for the most part, and the university said police cited three students for vandalism, who organizers said were not part of the encampment.
Barricades have surrounded the library quad starting on Monday, April 29. Initially, the administration gave demonstrators a midnight deadline on May 1 for the encampment to stay, but they extended approval for the encampment for a while longer.
The university said approval was extended for a week, through midnight on May 8.
Organizers said there are several student groups present, including Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. They have a list of demands for California State University, which include divesting CSU funds from Israel.
ABC10 reached out to the CSU administration about the protester's demands.
In a statement, they said, in part, “California State University does not intend to alter existing investment policies related to Israel or the Israel-Hamas conflict.”
Despite this, students said they will continue to protest until their goals are met. The campus remains open and classes are still in session.
Sacramento State's last day of instruction is May 10 with finals week from May 13-17. Graduation is scheduled for May 17-19.
On Thursday morning President Biden addressed the nationwide campus protests.
He defended the right to free speech but said “order must prevail” on college campuses. The Democratic president's comments Thursday broke days of silence as police crackdown on encampments that were erected to show solidarity with Gaza.
Republicans have tried to turn scenes of campus unrest into a campaign cudgel against Democrats. Student protests on college campuses have reached a boiling point as administrators turn to police to clear encampments.
Former President Donald Trump has criticized Biden for not speaking out more. The college campus protesters want the U.S. to cut off support for Israel.
A full statement from Sacramento State University is available below.
We continue to remain in regular contact with the students and community members who have formed an encampment in the Library Quad in support of Palestine, and communication has been open and transparent.
The University has extended its approval for the encampment, which originally had a deadline of midnight on Wednesday, May 1, and the approval is planned to be extended as long as the encampment stays peaceful and within the University’s Time, Place & Manner Restrictions on Speech and Speech-Related Activities policy.
On Monday night, campus police were contacted by students after they caught non-encampment students vandalizing University property. Police cited and released three students for vandalism. The damage was minor.
The campus remains open and classes are in session. Timely updates will be provided at csus.edu/alert.
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