'A major victory': UW-Milwaukee leaders reach deal with student protesters to remove Pro-Palestinian encampment

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- After nearly two weeks of a pro-Palestinian encampment set up on the lawn outside of UW-Milwaukee's Mitchell Hall, university leadership announced late Sunday night they have reached an agreement with representatives of the protesters for its removal.

In a statement from UWM Chancellor Mark Mone, students must completely deconstruct the encampment by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14. If no "meaningful progress" toward the removal has been made by midnight on Sunday, May 12, the school will begin "student conduct processes immediately."

Officials noted UWM staff would be on hand Monday to help with the removal of any of the encampment's larger items.

The agreement also states there cannot be any disruptions to either of UWM's upcoming commencement ceremonies. 

UWM is now calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, and condemns both the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, and Israel's attack on civilians, as well as Israel's invasion of Gaza and the civilians that invasion killed.

The school is also calling for the release of hostages by Hamas and prisoners by Israel. 

It also states that the school's foundation will review its investments in funds that include weapons manufacturers. 

Demonstrators first set up tents on April 29, protesting the war in Gaza.

Since then, there have been several meetings between Palestinian supporters and UWM to find a peaceful resolution.

On Sunday night, the encampment was filled with dozens who were cheering and applauding their efforts.

“This is a major victory. Students are coming saying they are proud. Community members are coming and saying they are proud, and most importantly, everyone is feeling overwhelmed in support and gratitude that we are able to give a voice to the people who don’t have a voice in Gaza," said Ameen Atta, an organizer with UWM's Popular University for Palestine Coalition. "As we’ve reiterated from the beginning, this is for Gaza, this is for those who are suffering, and we are proud that we were able to put pressure on our university today and come to an agreement on things we have been working on for months.”

Atta told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White he believed their work would not have been possible "without the encampment."

“When we launched this encampment, we immediately were able to get the university to concede to the demands that we’ve been asking for, for months through these traditional methods," Atta said. “I think in this statement, in this action that the university has conceded to, we have not seen this type of language, this type of action from the majority of universities around the nation.”

He added that people should not view the encampment's closure as an end to their movement but as "a sign of growth."

“We are continuing to put action on the university, on the UW Foundation. Our demand of disclosure and divestment is still in progress, and we are still working on that," Atta said. “We have already been organizing for the past hours, days, weeks, on what to do next and so we have some concrete action planned in place. The momentum is only growing.”

A press conference near Mitchell Hall is planned for Monday morning at 10:30 a.m.

To read Chancellor Mone's full statement, read here.

The full agreement can be read here. 

This is a developing story. Stick with CBS 58 online and on air for updates.