Spring Protests: A Retrospective
Published June 7th, 2024
By Dylan Noble, Activism Director
Since mid-April, the campuses of Indiana, and of the nation, have been engulfed in controversy as pro-Palestinian protests and encampments have been formed in a display of international solidarity. One of the most notable protests occurred at IU Bloomington, where peacefully-assembled students were met with militarized police and riot control tactics. Students at IU Indianapolis have set up one of the largest and longest-running Liberated Zone encampments for Palestine. Throughout this, the College Democrats of Indiana has had a part in supporting these protests, and will continue to be a political voice for college students in Indiana. From the Activism department, here’s a quick look back at the protests, what we can learn from them, and where we go from here.
Since the beginning of the war in Gaza last October, the conflict has been a focus of liberal and left-wing groups in America, especially as extreme human rights abuses by Israel have mounted. College students, continuing to be the vanguard of American social activism, have been just as focused on and outraged over this conflict as anyone. At Indiana University, this came to a head in mid-April after months of controversies surrounding the administration’s treatment of Palestinian activism. Protests erupted in Dunn Meadow at IU, where President Pamela Whitten’s administration quietly changed longstanding protest policy overnight in a brazen attempt to suppress free speech and the right to organize. As the peaceful protests drew greater numbers, Whitten’s administration called in police in fully militarized riot gear bearing semiautomatic rifles. Snipers were planted on rooftops. The police suppressed the protests, but activism by local groups continued and is ongoing. Similarly, protests to divest from Israel have occurred at IU Indianapolis, Purdue University Lafayette, the University of Notre Dame, and others, including many more around the country such as Columbia. IU Indianapolis continues to have one of the longest-standing encampments in protest of IU’s continued investment in Israel and in solidarity for those suffering in Gaza and elsewhere around the world.
What was most troubling about the protests at IU was the use of force towards peacefully protesting students. This has been condemned by the College Democrats of Indiana and numerous other groups around the state and country. IU faculty and staff have overwhelmingly organized against President Whitten, as have students. Throughout this, our chapter at Bloomington has played a major part in supporting the protests and denouncing the university response.
With these protests largely behind us as university students disperse for the summer, what can we learn from them? We can learn that student action does produce results, even if results are hard-won. IU has not yet announced plans to divest from Israel, but administrative change seems to be occurring. Around the world, many universities have agreed to divest from Israel. In the U.S., the Biden administration — while still staunchly in support of Israel — appears to be growing more impatient with Israel and at least verbally more skeptical of Israeli actions in Gaza. The movement to vote “uncommitted” or equivalent in the primary elections has also put real pressure on Biden to change policy. We’ve learned that collective action can influence policy, and it can make a difference. This is why CDIN continues to be an activist organization and will continue to help organize college students in Indiana toward a better future.
