Tulane University officials closed three buildings and a portion of the school's Uptown campus on Tuesday after pro-Palestinian protesters erected a small encampment on the lawn outside Gibson Hall a day earlier and defended it with a human chain through much of the night.
According to a statement Tuesday morning from Tulane President Michael Fitts, Gibson, Tilton-Memorial and Dinwiddie halls on the end of campus close to St. Charles Avenue would remain closed and classes held in them would be conducted remotely.
The move comes after nearly 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators took over the lawn in front of the campus, echoing demonstrations at many other U.S. universities in recent weeks and posing the biggest test for Fitts and his administration since navigating the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday, Tulane officials said six people had been arrested related to a skirmish on the lawn that occurred late in the afternoon when demonstrators first attempted to pitch tents and Tulane officers intervened, grabbing tent poles and other materials and in at least two cases forcing people to the ground. And while police ordered the demonstrators to disperse several times, they stayed well clear of the encampment and didn't attempt to remove any tents or demonstrators after the initial altercation. Through the night, neither side engaged much with the other.
By early Tuesday, fewer than a dozen tents were on the lawn and traffic was flowing normally along St. Charles Avenue. The Tulane Hullabaloo reported that about 30 protesters were in the area, and food and water were available on nearby tarps.
Fitts called the encampment "unlawful" and said he believed that many of the demonstrators were not students. The demonstration turned combative when Tulane and New Orleans police became involved.
"We want to be clear: We do not condone and will not allow trespassing, hate speech, antisemitism and bias against religious or ethnic groups, harassment, intimidation, violence, and other criminal acts on any of our campuses," Fitts said.
It isn't clear what steps Fitts plans to take next to address the encampment.
Pro-Palestinian protesters try to set up tents in front of Gibson Hall on Tulane University's campus on Monday, April 29, 2024.
According to the statement, Cowen Circle and the lawn in front of Gibson on the St. Charles Ave. side were closed until further notice. The statement advised people to avoid the area adjacent to the Gibson lawn, including the neutral ground of St. Charles Ave.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have increased around the U.S. in recent weeks, including in New Orleans but especially on college campuses, to protest Israel's military response in Gaza to the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.
While many protests have been peaceful, a pro-Palestinian demonstration on Jackson Square escalated into violence Sunday night. Five NOPD officers were hospitalized. Twelve demonstrators were arrested, two of whom claim to have injuries from police.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
