Several removed by police from protest against war in Gaza at Virginia Tech

UPDATE: 4/28 12:05 A.M. BLACKSBURG, Va. ( WFXR ) — Virginia Tech released a statement late Sunday night, saying students who refused to leave the encampment were arrested for trespassing.

In the statement, the school says the demonstrators were violating their Facilities Usage and Events policy. They determined that the protest had the potential to become unsafe as “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.”

Both the school and WFXR’s crew at the scene confirmed multiple warnings were issued throughout the evening before any arrests were made.

Read the full statement below:

“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.”

Virginia Tech Spokesperson Mark Owczarski

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UPDATE: 4/28 11:16 P.M. BLACKSBURG, Va. ( WFXR ) — Sunday night, police detained protesters on the Virginia Tech campus.

A WFXR crew at the scene says both Blacksburg and campus police had been at the scene of the protest throughout the afternoon carrying zip ties.

Organizers told our reporter that they had been given multiple deadlines to leave throughout the evening, but no demonstrators were removed until after 10:30 p.m. Police made an announcement before detaining protesters.

Virginia Tech sent out an alert shortly before the arrests warning the community of a large police presence at the Graduate Life Center.

Students set up an encampment on the lawn there Friday.

Blacksburg Police have also closed the road at College Avenue and North Main Street, according to our crew at the scene.

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UPDATE: 4/27 BLACKSBURG, Va. ( WFXR ) — Saturday, March 27, was day two of protests on the Virginia Tech campus. Students there joined dozens of other universities across the country protesting the war in Gaza. Students and allies spent the night on the lawn of the Graduate Life Center.

“We tried to personally invite Tim Sands, but he actually rejected, saying that he spoke with us. But the last time we actually have spoken with him was in November,” said Layan, a student organizer who wished to remain anonymous. “We have constantly felt like our voices, our cause have not been listened to, which is why we keep coming out and keep protesting.”

The students had another rally at 6 p.m. on Saturday and plan on posting all future events on their Instagram .

While student organizers initially told WFXR that they only planned to hold the encampment for three to four days, student organizers said Saturday that they would be there indefinitely until something is done.

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BLACKSBURG, Va. ( WFXR ) — Unrest continues at colleges and universities across the country. Demonstrators from New York’s Colombia University to California’s Cal State are addressing the war in Gaza.

On Friday, April 26, protests began much closer to home, though it was a much more peaceful scene at Virginia Tech than in many other places. Hokie students demonstrated for over 10 hours on Friday.

Early in the day, student organizers erected tents and provided food throughout the day for protestors, as they plan to demonstrate for the next few days or until the university meets their demands.

One of the things that we have been deriving from other universities like Columbia University and this massive struggle for “Free Palestine” is that there is a level of inspiration and hope,” said Emon Green, a fourth-year student and media spokesperson for the group.

Students are demanding Virginia Tech divest from Israel, become more transparent about their endowments, issue an official statement condemning Israel’s violence, define anti-Palestinian racism, and acknowledge suppression they believe Palestinian and allied students have faced on campus.

“VT along with a lot of other institutions are complicit in the ongoing genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza and their continuing to fund people that are contributing to this genocide like a state like Israel. It’s good that the students are all coming out to go against that and I wanted to be a part of that,” said Cassidy Mieses, a second-year grad student.

Students have been passing out flyers saying tech funds drone research and is a part of the Virginia Israel advisory board. In a statement from the university, Virginia Tech said the gathering was not registered with them and officials and officials and police have responded to let protesters know.

However, not everyone was supporting Palestine, on Friday. One man came onto the campus with his daughter in pro-Israeli support.

“I’m not out here to say everything the Israeli government does is right, I’m here to say that this is wrong. If you’re going to have a protest for peace, you can’t include Hamas,” said Jonathan Silverman, a Jewish Protestor, “I want peace as bad as they do. I don’t want to see bombs dropped on anybody, but there’s no pressure on the people starting this.”

Organizers tell WFXR that police have told them they can stay as long as they take down the tents they had up earlier. Protestors say they plan to be here for the next three to four days.

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