Hours after demonstrators gathered in the Art Institute of Chicago's garden and set up tents, police forcibly cleared the pro-Palestinian encampment at the Art Institute of Chicago on Saturday and arrested dozens of protesters.
Among the demonstrators were students from the affiliated Art Institute of Chicago, the museum said in a statement.
Chicago police announced on social media that officers removed the protesters at the school's request. A Chicago Police Department spokesperson said Sunday that 68 people were arrested and charged with trespassing.
Police said protesters set up camp in the North Garden, part of the Art Institute of Chicago, around 11 a.m. Saturday. During the recent wave of pro-Palestinian protests, encampments continued for days or even weeks at some other schools in the United States before police action occurred; Police said they “responded immediately” to maintain the safety of the public.
The People's Institute of Arts, which is organizing the protests, said on social media that demonstrators' demands include that the institute formally condemn Israel's treatment of Palestinians and remove any programs that justify the “occupation of Palestine.” This includes depriving any person or entity of property, he said on social media. Supports Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory. Photos uploaded by the group to social media showed a sign reading “The Garden of Hind” at the encampment, a reference to the 6-year-old killed in Israel's war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip earlier this year. It is named after Hind Rajab, a young Palestinian girl.
The museum said it offered protesters an alternative venue and the school promised students they would not face academic sanctions or charges if they moved there.
The statement added that some demonstrators “surrounded and pushed the security guards, stole the keys to the museum, blocked the emergency exits and barricaded the gates.”
After about two hours of negotiations, the museum asked police to remove the protesters, police said. Police said officers issued warnings and eventually removed and arrested the protesters.
In a video posted by organizers, some demonstrators can be seen chanting, “Who are you protecting? Who are you serving?”