Hunter
05/02/24
A student encampment by a pro-Palestine group is planned for this weekend.
According to a flyer being circulated, the People’s University of Palestine plan to camp on the Pentacrest Friday, Saturday and Sunday from Noon-7pm. The flyer states, “Stand in solidarity with student encampments, and show the University of Iowa we won’t back down!”
The event promises music, food and art displays.
It also drew the attention of Republican state congressman Carter Nordman. He represents the 47th district located west of Des Moines. He posted the flyer on X Wednesday and said he spoke with officials at the University of Iowa about the event. He said,” They have assured me that their policies and the law will be fully enforced and done so without hesitation. I am confident this will be the case. In Iowa, if you break the law or violate university policy, you should be expelled, banned, and/or prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
He called the encampment one of the, quote, “unlawful pro-Hamas acts occurring around the country.”
One comment to Nordman’s post said, “sorry, when did ‘please don’t genocide Palestinians’ become ‘pro Hamas?’”
Haley Bruce is the UI’s campus safety chief of staff. She told the Gazette that the university is aware of the protests and has protocols in place. Bruce added the primary goal of law enforcement during demonstrations is “to protect free speech while ensuring the safety of both demonstrators and the community.”