Day 9: Pro-Palestine protests continue at UW-Milwaukee despite heavy rain

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Student protesters at UW-Milwaukee had to deal with the rain Tuesday. They've had mostly good weather since they set up tents last Monday. 

"We've consolidated anything that could get wet in a safe space under a tarp. Obviously, it's not foolproof, things are still getting wet," said student Sania Syed.

Rainstorms were no match for protesters who say the fight continues. But some groups worry about what might happen as the encampments live on.

Milwaukee Hillel's executive director, Rabbi Joshua Herman, says although protests have been peaceful so far, other groups have attacked Jewish students. 

"We had a mob of antisemitic protesters shouting violent slogans at a group of Jewish students and then circling us just a couple of weeks ago on campus. And we had to flee campus under police protection," he said. 

This encampment is located directly across the street from the Hillel, the Jewish center on campus. Student organizers tell us this was not done on purpose, it was not meant to send a message toward them. In fact, it was a coincidence. 

Rabbi Herman tells us they don't take a political stance, instead they're focused on peace. 

"We are pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian and we are more than anything, pro-peace," he said. 

But student protest organizer Sania Syed calls that a contradiction. 

"I don't think anyone can be pro-Palestine and pro-Israel. The situation here - we have no, we have nothing against any specific religion or nationalist, we have something against the Israeli government and the regime," Syed said. 

And with graduation right around the corner, Rabbi Herman says he hopes UWM does not cancel their ceremonies. 

"The notion that protesters would take away, you know, their ability to celebrate this achievement because of what's going on half a world away that the university is not engaged in at all, is really unfortunate," Rabbi Herman said. 

UWM tells CBS 58 so far, the encampment has not disrupted daily campus operations.