Pro-Palestinian protesters march on offices of UWM Foundation as agreement with universities sparks more fallout

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Pro-Palestinian protests continued Wednesday, May 15, with a commemoration of Nakba Day, when Palestinians were permanently displaced in 1948.

Wednesday's protest comes in the wake of new criticism of the deal that was struck between UWM and the student protesters who built an encampment on campus for more than two weeks.

The protesters are now keeping their attention on the UWM Foundation after securing a major victory with the university earlier in the week.

A rally and march to the foundation's offices Wednesday was meant to keep the pressure on the foundation to divest from Israeli companies.

Meanwhile, the university's chancellor continues to face pushback and criticism for the deal that was struck this week.

The protest began with a celebration, as one said to the gathered crowd, "Let's give an applause for those powerful students who led that encampment at UW-Milwaukee."

The protesters say it's a new chapter in their ongoing efforts.

Alan Chavoya, a member of the Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist & Political Repression, said, "Stand with the students who are demanding that the UW system divest from Israel."

Audari Tamayo, with Students for a Democratic Society – Milwaukee, said, "The community came together in a way they haven't in a long time for a common cause. And that's why we're still here."

Wednesday's rally began in Gordon Park near Locust and Humboldt.

Then they marched more than a mile to the UWM Foundation office.

The number of marchers topped 100 as more people joined them along the way. On Oakland Avenue, they spread across both sides of the street as safety coordinators blocked off traffic as they went.

As they gathered outside the office, one organizer told the crowd, "We will keep putting pressure on the foundation until they disclose, until they divest."

Meanwhile, there was more pushback Wednesday against UWM Chancellor Mark Mone's statement earlier in the week that announced the agreement.

The protesters had demanded The Water Council -Mone serves on the board- cut ties with two Israeli companies.

In the terms of the agreement, Mone wrote, "At the Chancellor's urging, the Water Council no longer has relationships with these entities."

But the Water Council disagreed with that characterization, saying in a statement, "there has been no activity with these organizations since 2019 and they were never members of The Water Council. Additionally, The Water Council has had no formal ties, ongoing projects or financial interests with any company or organization in Israel or the Middle East in recent history."

That response followed strong criticism Tuesday from the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.

President Miryam Rosenzweig said, "This has made news because no one has seen such a bad statement that so clearly isolates the Jewish community."

And Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman's expressed concern with the agreement, saying he was "disappointed by the course taken by UW-Milwaukee". On Tuesday, Rothman said in a social media message, "I am continuing to assess the decision-making process that led to the result."

On Wednesday, Palestinians pushed back against Rothman, with one saying at the rally, "You have been able to silence many, including many government officials. But you will not silence us."

Mone said he'll address the process of reaching the agreement -and the criticism of it- soon, but not Wednesday as we were told he was again unavailable for interviews.

Protesters told us that at this time, there are no further meetings scheduled between them and the UWM Foundation.