The organization UNC Students for Justice in Palestine held a demonstration on UNC campus Thursday afternoon, which resulted in the disruption of class and vandalism of several university buildings.
A group of campus community members organized a “walk out” of classes and their jobs in a demonstration of solidarity with Palestinians, as the region continues to be heavily impacted by the Israel-Hamas war. The protest’s participants marched across parts of central campus and into several buildings after gathering at the steps of Wilson Library for speakers to share their concerns. It marks the latest chapter of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at UNC as Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) calls for UNC to “divest from the apartheid regime and genocidal campaign being inflicted against the Palestinians by the Zionist regime.”
During the demonstration, participants left behind damage and vandalism, according to the university. In a statement shared Thursday evening, UNC said the group entered at least nine academic buildings in an attempt to disrupt classes. During that time, the interior and exterior of some buildings were spray painted or marked up, causing “significant damage.” One of those places, which is where the demonstration gathered toward the end of its event, was the ROTC Naval Armory, which is included in the National Register of Historic Places. The university shared photos of the exterior doors and entry signs being spray painted with messages like “UNC DIVEST,” “BURN, RIOT, RESIST,” and “FREE PALESTINE.”
Some of the spray painted vandalism of the ROTC Naval Armory at UNC on September 19. 2024. (Photo via UNC Media Relations.)
According to UNC, the full extent of the damage and impact is still being determined as of Thursday evening. Campus police are investigating the incident to determine who damaged university property or violated state law. Those who did, as well as those who violate UNC policies, may face criminal prosecution and university discipline.
“Free expression and peaceful protest are, of course, in line with Carolina’s best traditions,” said UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts in a provided statement. “We cannot tolerate, however, vandalism of public property or disruption of classes. We’ll pursue every avenue possible to hold people accountable. We have a beautiful campus maintained by our hard-working facilities staff. We expect everyone who comes to this campus to show respect and care for this historic place and for the people trying to live, work and learn here.”
In addition to the UNC administration’s statement on the demonstration, campus police shared an alert on social media Thursday saying they are seeking to identify a person involved in an assault at Carolina Hall. Photos provided by UNC Police show someone amid pro-Palestine demonstrators.
The individual in these photos is a suspect of an assault which occurred today at Carolina Hall at 1:17pm. Anyone with any information on this individual, the assault, or the vandalisms on campus is asked to contact Sgt. Dodson at (919)843-1423 or matt_dodson@unc.edu. pic.twitter.com/s4CDhbWwvp
— UNC Police (@UNCPolice) September 19, 2024
UNC also issued an informational Alert Carolina to students about the demonstrations late Thursday afternoon.
Some recent pro-Palestine demonstrations have resulted in student arrests and vandalism as well. In April, a group of SJP demonstrators violated university policy by putting up tents on the Polk Place quad and accessing academic buildings overnight. Police arrested 36 people over the incident, which sparked a larger demonstration and saw a clash between protestors and police once people removed the U.S. flag in favor of a Palestinian flag. In May, a group of demonstrators poured red paint on the steps of South Building and its doors in the hours before UNC’s commencement ceremony. No charges have been publicly announced by the university regarding that vandalism.
Featured photo via UNC Media Relations.
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