MADISON (WKOW) -- Pro-Palestine student protesters have agreed to clear their encampment on Library Mall after coming to a resolution with UW-Madison campus leaders Friday.
The agreement comes after 12 days of protests on UW's campus. At times, the protest grew tense, with police arresting some protesters.
According to a post from UW-Madison, student representatives from Students for Justice in Palestine agreed to clear the encampment Friday. The university said the group also committed to not disrupt this weekend's graduation ceremonies or other campus functions, nor reestablish an encampment on campus.
SJP has also committed to following UW–Madison rules in its future activities.
"We appreciate reaching resolution with SJP and acknowledge the support they received from their faculty liaisons," campus leaders said in a statement.
The statement continued, "This has been a difficult period for our campus, our nation and the world. We want to be clear that UW–Madison supports peaceful student protest, fully respects the First Amendment, and has done so throughout this year. We appreciate that the encampment, named by SJP the Gaza Solidarity Encampment, although in violation of Chapter 18, was motivated by understandably passionate feelings about the devastation in Gaza, and was a source of community for many participants.
We also understand that the encampment made others in our community, especially portions of our Jewish community, feel uncomfortable and unseen. We reiterate our strong condemnation of antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate and bigotry in all its forms, and we recognize the costs of war and displacement on so many across the globe."
In the agreement, campus leaders committed to addressing concerns of encampment organizers: facilitation of access for SJP to meet with decision makers to discuss disclosure and investment principles and enhanced engagement with and support for scholars and students impacted by war, violence and displacement.
UW–Madison leaders say they will provide additional information to campus and look forward to celebrating Commencement activities with our community this weekend.
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