MINNEAPOLIS — An unspecified number of pro-Palestinian demonstrators were taken into custody at the University of Minnesota on Monday after students momentarily occupied an administrative building, according to protest organizers.
The protest, which unfolded in the afternoon, triggered an alert from university officials warning of the protesters’ unauthorized entry into Morrill Hall. The alert stated, “Protestors have entered Morrill Hall on the East Bank, causing property damage and restricting entrance and exit from the building. If you are currently in Morrill Hall and able to safely exit the building, please do so immediately. Others are advised to avoid this area until further notice.”
An official from the university withheld additional details regarding the situation and did not confirm the number of arrests made. When contacted, a representative from the university police indicated that no further information was available beyond the earlier announcement.
Ryan Mattson, who serves as a media liaison for the university’s Students for a Democratic Society chapter, conveyed that some individuals affiliated with the protest who were inside Morrill Hall had been arrested, though he was uncertain of the total count. As students continued to rally, he expressed their objective: “just trying to find where our people are,” he commented from the scene.
Merlin Van Alstein, another organizer, stated that roughly 30 protesters had occupied the building, with a larger assembly of supporters present outside. In a poignant tribute, the group renamed Morrill Hall to “Halimy Hall” in memory of Medo Halimy, a 19-year-old Palestinian TikTok influencer who tragically lost his life in August during an Israeli airstrike, an incident the Israeli military claimed not to have knowledge of.
Equipped with tents and other provisions, the demonstrators made clear their intention to remain until their demands were addressed. They called for the university to divest from Israel and to nullify its political neutrality agreement. Online videos depicted the protesters stacking chairs in front of an exterior door, effectively creating a blockade.
“We plan to stay until they forcibly remove us,” Van Alstein stated prior to the arrests. “The people inside aren’t going to leave until they meet our demands or they are forced to leave.” Earlier, a video posted on Facebook featured a speaker announcing the occupation, clarifying that protesters were not preventing anyone from entering or exiting.
This speaker stood in front of a significant banner reading, “Money for education, not for bombs & occupation,” pointing towards a broader trend of campus protests across the nation in reaction to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which includes calls for divestment.
These protests, including previous demonstrations at University of Minnesota campuses, have raised critical debates surrounding free speech and accusations of antisemitism, as students urge their institutions to halt business relations with Israel or with entities associated with the Gaza conflict fallout.
Coincidentally, the university’s homecoming week commenced on the same day as the protest.