Students for Justice in Palestine form encampment at NAU

Brisa Karow and The Lumberjack staff | Published by The Lumberjack

April 30, 2024

Photo by John Chaides

A growing movement of Palestine support on college campuses has spread across the United States in the past two weeks. Beginning at Columbia University and reaching colleges across the nation, encampments formed in solidarity with people in the Gaza Strip. 

On Tuesday, the NAU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (NAU SJP) formed the “NAU Encampment” on central campus. NAU SJP hosted an informational meeting Monday night detailing the encampment and their strategy to act in solidarity in a non-violent manner. 

In an Instagram post announcing the encampment, NAU SJP stated its reasoning for protesting.

“This is about stopping the genocide in Palestine,” the post read.

The group outlined its demands to NAU, which include the university be transparent about its lobbying activity, divest any funding from Israel and abolish NAUPD. 

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera released a statement Monday regarding policies on student protests. A campus-wide email of the statement went out mid-day to all students and faculty.

“We will adopt an interim policy on campus expressive activity and public safety to ensure that applicable laws and NAU and ABOR policies are clear,” the statement said. “This will include our strong support for free speech and our responsibility to maintain reasonable time, place, and manner guidelines related to free expression.”

The policy, according to the statement, will also note protests should not compromise public safety or university operations. 

Additionally, the statement addressed actions that have been seen at university campuses across the U.S. 

“Expressive activities and temporary structures are prohibited on campus outside of standard operating times of 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” the statement said.

Live Updates

1 a.m. Wednesday: Law enforcement leaves campus

NAUPD left the intersection where protesters remained. They loaded into three vehicles lined up on West McCreary Drive. Some protesters chased after the vehicles as they drove away.

Most protesters dispersed, though a small group stayed on the former encampment site to continue their demonstration. 

NAU sent an email update stating that NAUPD arrested approximately 20 protesters for trespassing and removed all unauthorized temporary structures. 

A hearing for the students who were arrested will occur Wednesday at 10 a.m. NAU SJP will hold a press conference at the encampment site at 11 a.m.

12 a.m. Wednesday: Police close off the Union Pedway

Police approached the crowds surrounding the lawn, pushing them away from the area around the University Union. Police movements separated the crowd in two, with one half standing between Raymond Hall and McDonald Hall and the other on West Blome Drive between Raymond Hall and the University Union.   

The protesters held their positions and continued to chant in unison, “We will not stop. We will not rest. Divulge. Divest,” among chants in disagreement with the police presence. 

As law enforcement began to dissipate, protesters moved toward them, marching back across the lawn where the encampment was and along South Beaver Street. Law enforcement continued receding from the crowd until they reached the intersection of McCreary Drive and South Beaver Street.   

Protesters chanted “Leave Our Campus” at the police and sat down in the middle of the road, continuing to hold signs and displaying the flag of Palestine.

11 p.m.: Police and NAU administrators clear encampment

Law enforcement arrested remaining demonstrators within the encampment. They destroyed umbrellas and broke down tents alongside NAU administration members, including Associate Vice President for Communications Kimberly Ott, Vice President for Inclusion Excellence Justin Mallett and Chief of Staff for the President’s Office Brian Registar. 

The tents and other items NAU SJP collected for the encampment were donated by community members and students.

NAU SJP said in an Instagram story post they “ask NAUPD donate them to unhoused people of Flagstaff,” saying that was the group’s original plan. The post ended with, “Do not let it all go to waste.” 

10 p.m.: Additional law enforcement arrive at encampment

NAUPD Chief Missy Freshour advised members of the surrounding crowds to leave, as their activities violated NAU’s interim policy. This warning happened multiple times before law enforcement moved in on the encampment approximately 45 minutes after the curfew went into place. 

Law enforcement, dressed in tactical gear, ran up on the encampment in waves to make arrests. NAU SJP reported police's possible deployment of tear gas and use of tasers and batons. Students who were arrested were walked along South Beaver Street and to the law enforcement’s staging area out of sight of the encampment. Some students were carried or dragged away.

NAUPD gave a few more warnings to bystanders to dissipate and continued to make arrests in the crowd outside the encampment. 

The crowd dispersed momentarily each time law enforcement advanced before forming again along the police blockade. A few students stood on light poles, tables and one on an NAUPD vehicle for a few minutes.

9 p.m.: Protesters prepare for police action

Leading up to NAU’s 10 p.m. curfew, protesters began to line up in the front of the encampment and link arms. Counter protesters who made their way into the encampment were kicked out by NAU SJP leadership. Medical personnel stood outside a room at Gillenwater Hall.

NAU SJP’s designated protest tiers also took their positions. The red group stayed within the encampment, holding umbrellas for protection, and the pink group stood behind them holding signs. Lining the Union Pedway were the yellow and green groups who linked arms or held signs. 

NAU faculty stood directly outside the encampment holding signs that encouraged NAU to divest from the Israel-Hamas war and in support of a free Palestine.

A few protesters played instruments, and the crowd began shouting chants in support of Palestine as police presence increased. 

Police personnel from Coconino County Sheriff’s, Arizona State Troopers and Flagstaff Police Department joined NAUPD at the site. The state troopers led police in lining up to create a boundary between the encampment protesters and the rest of the crowd that had formed. 

Large crowds of students accumulated along the west-facing side of the NAU Bookstore, on North Blome Drive next to Raymond Hall and on the University Pedway next to the University Union. 

NAU administration gave another warning to the crowd.

8 p.m.: NAU SJP mandatory meeting starts hour late

More NAU SJP members moved into the red subgroup. Each group met and the group leaders explained what each group would do. The red group prepared defensive maneuvers with umbrellas and a plan to link arms and stand close together — stepping forward or backwards together. 

NAUPD implemented roadblocks on the intersections of South Beaver Street and East University Drive, South Beaver Street and West McCreary Drive and West McCreary Drive and South San Francisco Street. 

Police officers set up flood lights on the sides of the roads facing inward to the encampment.

7 p.m.: NAU SJP divides into subgroups 

NAU SJP divided protesters into groups of red, pink, green and yellow, based on participants’ level of willingness to face potential legal or academic consequences — with red being the most committed to staying at the encampment.

Kaly Arvizu, a local Indigenous activist, handed out pamphlets about Haul No and Taydem James. 

As the sun went down, protesters in the encampment painted plexiglass sheets and gathered sleds and umbrellas to use as protection if needed. NAU SJP organizers handed out headlamps and lanterns across the camp. 

Dean of Students Megan Gavin returned to the encampment to repeat the NAU administration’s message about the university’s interim policy on expressive activity and public safety.

An NAU SJP organizer led the protesters in chants of “Be safe, be present, be numbers.”

6 p.m.: NAU administration members address protesters 

A member of the National Lawyers Guild told protesters within the encampment what to do if they were to be arrested or detained, leading them in a “Know Your Rights” training.   

NAU administration members approached the encampment with a large speaker and microphone. Dean of Students Megan Gavin told the protesters they will be subject to criminal charges and sanctions pursuant to NAU and Arizona Board of Regents policies. Signs titled “Expressive Activity & Public Safety” were placed around the outside of the encampment stating the same policy sent by NAU earlier in the day.  

4 p.m.: Protesters bide the time 

The number of tents within the encampment is now at around 20, with an estimated 80 protesters inside. Outside organizers came by to drop off supplies requested by NAU SJP. 

In the encampment, community members and students built a “People’s Liberation Library” with books covering topics of social and racial justice, gender equality and education on organizing a demonstration. The protesters blew bubbles, played music and crafted signs. 

A line of six people within the encampment stood with their backs turned to six counter-protesters on the other side of the constructed fence. 

2 p.m.: Counter-protestors discuss NAU SJP Instagram post with NAUPD

Two counter-protesters spoke to an NAUPD officer about a video depicting one of them posted on NAU SJP’s Instagram story. The officer informed them that the organizers did not break any laws by posting the video, as they had the legal right to record in a public space. 

When the counter-protesters expressed concern over their safety, the officer explained the SJP members were exercising their First Amendment rights and were not breaking any laws. She also told them to call 9-1-1 or approach a member of SpEAK should any violence occur. 

Students outside the encampment approached the border with questions for demonstration participants. Demonstrators discussed their demands and provided their perspective on the conflict. Some demonstrators requested participants enter the encampment and wear facial coverings before continuing their conversation. 

1 p.m.: Observational groups monitor crowd activity

A legal observer with the National Lawyers Guild stood outside the encampment to view and document interactions between police officers and demonstrators.

Also present were members of the Speech Expression Action Knowledge (SpEAK) Team, a neutral group on campus that works to promote civil discourse and freedom of expression. 

Salvador Lopez, a member of SpEAK, said they were there to support both groups and encourage education on what freedom of speech entails.

“Sometimes a lot of people don’t understand how freedom of speech has different variations,” he said. “It could be symbolic, it could be verbal, it could be maybe just standing here and making a statement.”

11 a.m.: Counter protesters arrive on scene

As protester numbers grew to around 30 people, the group began to construct a wire fence around the encampment. 16 tents were erect at the camp at this time.

A few counter protestors carrying Israeli flags and symbolage approached the encampment and shouted “Free the hostages” and “Don’t support the terrorists.”

From the second floor of Gillenwater Hall, a banner reading “All Universities in Gaza Have Been Destroyed” was hung from the railing. 

In the encampment, protesters told each other to cover their faces with masks and used umbrellas to shield themselves from photos. 

Two uniformed NAUPD officers were stationed on the top floor of the Student and Academic Services building in front of windows in view of the encampment. Other officers walked around the perimeter of the camp.

10 a.m.: NAU Communications sends out follow-up statement 

NAU sent out another campus-wide email addressing the protestors. In the statement, the university said it was “steadfast in its commitment to freedom of expression” and restated such activities should respect public safety and be in compliance with laws and university guidelines. 

The statement also said NAU “sought to create open lines of communication with organizers and will continue to work throughout the day to support individuals' rights to express themselves on campus.”

In an Instagram story post, NAU SJP said they “have no communication with administration and are not actively working with them.”

In a following story post, NAU SJP re-stated the encampment is a peaceful protest and they do not plan on allowing NAU to remove them. 

7 a.m.: “NAU Encampment” set-up begins

NAU SJP organizers sent out internal notices to people who attended the Monday informational meeting. At 7 a.m., NAU SJP began setting up the encampment, which is located on the lawn outside Gillenwater Hall between the University Union and South Beaver Street.

More than 10 tents were constructed on the lawn, while NAU SJP continued setting up and protestors collected.