Student protests over Israel-Palestine conflict begin on UW campuses

MADISON, Wis. (WMDX) – A national trend of student protests and encampments arrived at UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee on Monday.

The pro-Palestinian protests are in response to policies and funding for Israel.

On Library Mall at UW-Madison, hundreds of students began their protest Monday morning, and several camped out overnight.

UW officials released a statement on Monday, asking protestors to obey state and campus laws in making their voices heard.

“We recognize the deeply felt and passionate views held by those who are participating in today’s protest,” the statement said. “Campus representatives have engaged with members of the groups involved in today’s protest and have also shared protest guidelines with demonstration organizers.”

UW leaders are sharing a response to Monday's Library Mall protest, affirming free expression rights but again asking protestors to voluntarily comply with state law and remove tents and encampments on university property.https://t.co/oel6cGWSA9

— UW–Madison (@UWMadison) April 30, 2024

UW officials said in the statement that once tents were removed, they would be willing to meet with the protest’s organizers.

The Wisconsin protests drew statements from both sides of the political spectrum. Senator Tammy Baldwin said she supported the right to peacefully protest, but added that protesters need to obey the law.

“I support the right of students and community members to peacefully protest and have their voices heard,” Baldwin said. “But, no one is above the law and protests cannot threaten the safety of others or accept those who spew horrific antisemitism.”

My statement on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war protests: pic.twitter.com/H044sJdQBW

— Sen. Tammy Baldwin (@SenatorBaldwin) April 29, 2024

Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde called the protests “antisemitic.” He quote-tweeted Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden, who also labeled the protests antisemitic and asked Democratic members of Congress from Wisconsin to condemn them.

Democratic Congressman Mark Pocan, who voted against sending aid to Israel, said that the conflict in Gaza is not only a concern on college campuses, but in rural Wisconsin as well.

The group organizing the protests at UW-Madison, Students for Justice in Palestine, is calling for an end to the war and for UW-Madison to divest from companies that have business ties to Israel.

The estimated size of the protest was about 300 at its peak Monday.