Shorewood High School students walk out, join UW-Milwaukee encampment

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) – On its fourth day, the UW-Milwaukee Pro-Palestine encampment grew after teenagers swapped their books for Palestinian flags.

In an act of solidarity, students from Shorewood High School walked out of class at noon on Thursday, marching to UW-Milwaukee.

"It's said over and over again, but it's the truth - we are the future. We are the change we want to see," Nicolas Murphy said.

Murphy, a senior at Shorewood High School, tells CBS 58 he organized the walkout with a friend, gathering more than 50 students for the cause in just two days.

"It shows the willingness of our high school community to gather this quickly, this short notice, but still be this powerful," he said.

Protesters staying in the encampment escorted the high schoolers as they marched from their school to UW-Milwaukee.

"There is no way they were going to accept a 'no,' and they wanted to grace us with their presence, and we're really excited that the youth understands how important this is," Samia Saeed, with the UW-Milwaukee Popular University for Palestine Coalition, said.

The UW-Milwaukee Popular University for Palestine Coalition continues asking UW-Milwaukee to cut ties with Israel, a cause these Shorewood High School students said they are behind.

"The message to UW-Milwaukee: meet the demands of the encampment, and to the world, free Palestine," Murphy said.

While Muphy said he and his fellow high schoolers will have to get back to their studies soon, those on the encampment doubled down and said they are not going anywhere despite the encampment on UW-Madison's campus being removed Wednesday.

"We're here to occupy Falasteen lawn until all our demands are met," student Audari Tamayo said.

CBS 58 has reached out to UW-Milwaukee for an interview, but they are not making anyone available for interviews. Click here to read their latest statement on the encampment.