UPDATE: Tents rebuilt on campus, student protest continues

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UPDATE: Demonstrators have put up more tents near the Alma Mater statue on campus and have formed a large circle around the area, intending to protect the tents.

Some individuals have remained in the area since this morning's arrest, but numbers increased around 3 p.m.

As of 3:45 p.m., organizers are leading around 250 demonstrators in various chants.

URBANA — University of Illinois police arrested a demonstrator Friday morning who allegedly tried to prevent officers from removing tents set up by students and others protesting the university's ties to Israel.

The person, who is not a current student, was arrested at 8:26 a.m. after UI police responded to a group of people who had set up tents near the corner of Wright and Green streets, UI Associate Chancellor Robin Kaler said in an email.

UI police became aware of the tents just before 6 a.m. Officers informed the group that they were violating campus policy, as unauthorized items like camping tents are not allowed to be set up on campus property, Kaler said.

Officers apparently gave the group 30 minutes to remove the structures, but when the group had not removed all the structures after 45 minutes, university staff moved in.

Several demonstrators “actively attempted to prevent staff from their work,” and one of those demonstrators was arrested, Kaler said.

Preliminary charges for the one individual arrested are mob action, resisting arrest and trespassing for interfering with the removal of structures, UI police spokesman Pat Wade said in an email.

Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz will decide on formal charges.

Kaler said the university respects the rights of freedom of speech and expression and remains “committed to providing a safe environment for all members of our community.”

But “when unauthorized items are placed on campus property, we inform those who place them of our policy and instruct them to remove the items pursuant with negotiated timelines,” Kaler said. “Anyone who interferes with that removal is subject to consequences, including arrest when criminal laws are violated. For university students, immediate interim suspension from the university is also a possible outcome."

“Demonstrators who do not violate university policies are allowed to remain on public space as long as they continue to abide by university policies and state and federal laws. These measures are in place to maintain the physical safety of our campus and so that all campus community members can continue to benefit from the academic experience we are here to provide."

Kaler provided a timeline of the events:

• 5:59 a.m.: Initial instructions given.
• 6:56: Group told to remove structures by 7:15.
• 7:28: Facilities & Services employees began removal of tents. Group indicated they would remove the main structure on their own and was given another five minutes.
• 8:07: Another five-minute warning issued.
• 8:23: Removal completed.
• 8:26: Arrest made.

On Wednesday, around 300 UI students, faculty and community members gathered on campus to demand that university administration divest from companies and academic institutions with ties to Israel.

The group shut down Green Street between Sixth and Wright streets for around 45 minutes before attempting to enter the Swanlund Administration Building and speak with UI Chancellor Robert Jones.