On Tuesday, April 30, a group of University of Wisconsin-La Crosse students wrote pro-Palestine messages across campus in chalk. After a rain storm that evening students resumed writing in chalk Wednesday.
‘Stop the genocide’, ‘Permanent ceasefire now’ and ‘Students for peace’ are a few of the messages seen around campus. These messages are in line with a UWL outdoor chalking policy requiring that chalking be done 20 feet away from the entrance of all university buildings.
Also written in chalk is the mention of a new Instagram account; @laxstudentsforpalestine.
The Instagram account and a few messages advertise a rally for Palestine to be held at Hoeschler Tower, the clock tower in the middle of campus, on Friday, May 3. The caption on the Instagram post announcing the rally states, “Please join us this Friday at 2 p.m. at the clock tower for a rally in support of the student liberation zones at campuses across the United States and for ending the genocide in Palestine.”
The group joins UW-Madison, Columbia University, the University of California, Los Angeles and other universities across the country to demand: an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine, the allowance of humanitarian aid into Gaza, the establishment of humanitarian corridors and the release of all hostages being held in Gaza.
Laxstudentsforpalistine asks specifically UWL to disclose of all UWL Alumni and Friends Foundations investments and for UWL to divest from companies on the AFSC list the engage in occupation, borders and prisons.
As of 4:15 p.m. on May 1 the UWL student body has heard nothing from campus administration.
UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee are on day three of pro-Palestinian rallies on campus. Tents have been put up by protesters at both campuses and while those at UW-Milwaukee still stand tall, the encampment at UW-Madison has been approached differently.
Wednesday morning UW-Madison Police Department (UWPD) ordered pro-Palestine protesters to remove their tents on Library Mall, warning protesters who interfere with the removal will face “law enforcement action.” 35 protesters have been arrested by UWPD and only four cited.
Law enforcement actions towards the protests at UW-Madison have prompted a statement from University of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman. In the statement, Rothman commended UW-Madison Chancellor Mnookin Wednesday “for her reasonableness and resolve, as well as her commitment to free expression and the safety and security of her students.”
According to Rothman, in the same statement, Universities of Wisconsin support the First Amendment and the right to free expression through legal protest.
At UWL this Friday, May 3, sign-making will begin at 12:30 p.m. and the rally will follow at 2 p.m. A posted schedule states at 4 p.m. the group will sit with solidarity.
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