UnicornRiot

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

University of Denver Chancellor Jeremy Haefner is trying to get the encampment closed by 9 p.m. mountain time -- currently site of a crowded rally. Live now
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QkABIJZJXmk

students, supporters and tent

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

Live now at University of Denver
Last speaker was a Palestinian whose family member was pushed out of current-day Israel during the Nakba (Ar: "catastrophe") ethnic cleansing event
https://youtube.com/watch?v=QkABIJZJXmk

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

On Saturday police largely barred people from entering; apparently on orders from Drexel’s campus police chief. There was a brief struggle over the metal barricade components; an officer brandished a Taser at the crowd but was pulled back by another. Video:

https://x.com/UR_Ninja/status/1792004001979859038

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

Our livestream from inside the barricade ring ran for almost 3 1/2 hours until shortly before midnight Saturday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtZ2dIJT0Lo

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

The night before, nearly 20 demonstrators were arrested just blocks away at the UPenn campus which we also streamed live. https://unicornriot.ninja/2024/upenn-students-arrested-at-palestine-demo-after-building-occupation-attempt/

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

At Drexel on Saturday night, students and other observers we interviewed discussed everything from Philly’s protest culture and law enforcement practices to the Samidoun Prisoner’s Solidarity Network. Full livestream:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtZ2dIJT0Lo

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

In a tense confrontation at the beginning of the stream, Philly officers in riot gear wearing “Counter-Terrorism Operations” badges briefly assembled inside the perimeter but withdrew.

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

In interviews on-site students said that they were pushing to get #Drexel to pull its investments from BlackRock, which does business with Israel, as well as other divestments. They also said Drexel administrators have claimed it is illegal to disclose specific investments.

Nearly a dozen tents at night
Several types of police from Philly PD and Drexel

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

During late Saturday night, police were largely a static presence, dozens of students milled outside the perimeter discussing politics & playing music. A know-your-rights training with Up Against the Law & National Lawyers Guild members also took place w most camp participants.

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

Camp supporters regularly handed supplies including stacks of pizza, large tent structures & medic supplies over barricades w/o much interest from police. A Unicorn Riot reporter stuck around until morning as a police sweep seemed possible (UPenn’s camp was cleared this way).

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

While the encampments might seem like a typical exercise in campus politics it should be noted these activities are regarded as a strategic threat to Israel because they could shift the intellectual climate in the United States, which is Israel’s main international patron.

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

Articles by James Bamford in The Nation showed groups like the Israeli-American Council & Canary Mission are closely coordinating w. Israeli government agencies to crush student protests in the U.S. by harassing protesters.
https://www.thenation.com/article/activism/israeli-american-council/
https://www.thenation.com/article/world/canary-mission-israel-covert-operations/

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

Plethora of Police Forces in West Philly since 1970s:
After the shocking events at Kent State and Jackson State, in September 1970 President Nixon’s Commission on Campus Unrest, chaired by Pennsylvania Governor William Scranton, dropped its report.
One result was the rise of campus police departments.

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

As the Penn Disorientation Guide outlines, police forces multiplied during the campus crackdowns of the 1970s, until today:
“If you walk west down Market St. from 30th St. Station, in 1.5 miles you pass through the jurisdictions of 6 police departments." https://penndisorientation.com/2023/08/28/a-brief-and-violent-history-of-campus-policing/

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

Campus police in this side of the city (Drexel & UPenn) have demarcated “patrol zones” which extend into the city.

Drexel patrol zone

UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

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UnicornRiot, 9 days ago

Full story: Drexel Students Set Up Palestine Encampment, Call for Divestment From Israel
https://unicornriot.ninja/2024/drexel-students-set-up-palestine-encampment-call-for-divestment-from-israel/

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UnicornRiot, 10 days ago

Police have reportedly issued a verbal trespass warning to individuals present but no signage have been posted or actual warnings or announcements made to the group as a whole - Drexel admins moved all classes to Zoom today but may be keen to remove the occupation by tomorrow

Overturned chairs and tables seen with Philadelphia Police and Drexel University police huddled on both sides of metal barricades in the background - closer zoomed in variation on last image.