In a pre-dawn mobilization on April 25th, a group of around 30 students at Cornell University affiliated with the Coalition for Mutual Liberation (CML) set up a “liberated zone” encampment on campus, a sign of growing support for the movement calling for the university to divest from weapons manufacturers that are complicit in the ongoing violence in Gaza. As the day progressed, a crowd of hundreds of students, faculty, and community members gathered around outside of the “liberated zone” to support its efforts.
This action marks a culmination of efforts following a historic student referendum where undergraduate students voted to call for a permanent cease-fire and divesting from ten weapons manufacturers, including Boeing, ThyssenKrupp, Elbit Systems, RTX, and Lockheed Martin. The referendum passed with a 2:1 ratio and highlighted a growing sentiment among students to take a stand against the violence in Gaza.
Cornell Student and CML Organizer Nick Wilson told the Ithaca Times, “The referendum is an indication of the voice of students, and that’s kind of the dissonance between the values and beliefs of the student body, and the policies largely supported by the Board of Trustees and implemented by donors or administrators.” He said that the divide between students and administration has become more defined in recent weeks, “which is a large part of why we’re pursuing this action.” Wilson added, “We see the encampment as an alternative for students who believe that this university is no longer one that is representative of their values, so we’re creating something different.”
In response to the creation of the “liberated zone”, which occurred around 4 a.m. on the morning of April 15, the University sent five administrators to the encampment site to negotiate with protest organizers to get them to vacate the area. Cornell CFO and Executive Vice President Christopher Cowen told protesters that they had from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. to move their protest to the courtyard between Day Hall and Sage Chapel.
The protesters refused to comply with the administration's demands. Wilson said the decision was made to keep the encampment in its current location because the alternative location is “less frequented by students.” Wilson explained that setting up the encampment in the Art’s Quad was intentional, saying, “We set up on the Art’s Quad because it’s the most visible location on campus and has a rich history of student protest.” He added, “It’s somewhere that students can stop by and engage in the community we’re building here, which is really important to us.”
Around 12:30 pm, administrators arrived again to tell protesters they would be subject to disciplinary action, including the possibility of suspension if they did not remove the tents from the site before 1 p.m. Cowen told protesters, “If the tents are not removed by 1 pm, you will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension.” He added, “If you take tents down, you will be permitted to stay here nondisruptive until 8 pm when the space needs to be vacated.”
If suspended, the university has the ability to revoke all of the academic progress achieved by a student this semester, and the suspension could be extended for three years. Additionally, students that receive housing through Cornell University could be at risk of eviction.
In response to Cowell's demands, protest organizers made it clear that they would not leave the area unless administrators agreed to negotiate in good faith and meet some of the protest's demands. CML organizer Momodou Taal said, “We have made it clear that we are not leaving under any circumstances until we have negotiated in good faith and some of our demands are met.”
In response to questions regarding how Cornell University administration has responded to the organizers’ demands, Wilson said, “We haven’t received contact from administration as of right now [and] the plan is to keep the encampment as is.” He added, “They have been completely ignorant of our demands and have not commented on them.” He continued by saying that organizers will discuss any offers from the administration as a group.
The establishment of a "liberated zone" on Cornell's campus comes as students at universities like Columbia and NYU have organized similar encampments calling on their universities to support divestment. The encampments at Columbia and NYU have seen dozens of protesters arrested by the NYPD and subject to disciplinary action such as suspension.
According to Wilson, “The decision to go through with this action was motivated by our peers at Columbia, Cal Poly, [and] many other schools that have set up encampments in the past week.”
Organizers have said that “liberated zones” are spaces where students, staff, faculty, and community members can gather in solidarity with Gaza and demand accountability from the university. They say the zone serves as a space for nonviolent resistance, hosting teach-ins, art builds, and other activities to raise awareness about the urgency of addressing the crisis in Gaza.
Wilson said, “If you’re looking for a group of students committed to intellectual inquiry, asking the hard questions and taking action with what we learn in our classrooms, you’re fighting it right here.”
The impetus for the movement stems from Cornell's direct involvement in research and development for the Israeli Ministry of Defense through its partnership with Technion at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute in New York City. Technion's contributions to advanced drone technology and the D-9 unmanned bulldozer used in the demolition of Palestinian homes have drawn criticism and condemnation from activists.
Furthermore, Cornell's 2016 commitment to divest from companies engaged in "genocide, apartheid, and systematic cruelty against children" is cited as a basis for the current demands. The failure of the university to uphold this commitment is seen as a form of genocide denialism, perpetuating injustices against marginalized communities.
The student-led movement has faced opposition from the university administration, which is evident in the implementation of policies such as the Interim Expressive Activity Policy, which restricts student protests and demonstrations and has been widely criticized by students, faculty, and free speech groups. Additionally, more than 20 organizers have already been arrested and charged with trespassing for participating in protests supporting divestment.
Despite these challenges, students remain committed to pressuring the university to divest and are prepared to sustain the encampment until their demands are met. Encampment organizers have also found support from several members of Ithaca’s Common Council, which passed a resolution calling for the United States to support a ceasefire in Gaza on March 6.
First Ward Alderperson Phoebe Brown spoke from within the “liberation zone” about how all forms of oppression are interconnected. Brown said that it’s heartbreaking to see people in Gaza living in “horrible conditions,” just like it's heartbreaking to see people in Ithaca living in cycles of poverty and homelessness. Brown told protesters, “Let’s not only acknowledge what the hot item is, let’s remember that [systemic oppression] is happening every day in our own communities.” She added, “I want to energize you. I want to remind you that most of our changes have happened because students like you have stepped up…you’re doing the right thing.”
Browns First Ward colleague Kayla Matos posted on X (formerly Twitter) in support of students, saying, “I stand in solidarity with the brave students organizing for divestment across the nation. Putting your body on the line in solidarity with others is a sacred act. It’s crucial that universities, including Cornell, respect students’ free expression and avoid violent escalation.”
Additionally, Ithaca Democratic Socialists of America released a statement in support of the protest saying, "Ithaca DSA stands in complete solidarity with the brave students occupying the Art's Quad on Cornell University campus. Ithaca DSA rejects the punitive measures Cornell is planning against students, and calls on them to rescind these threats and continue negotiating with the students in good faith to divest University funds from weapons of genocide."
Just after 2 pm on April 25, Cornell’s Vice President of University Relations, Joel Malina, released a statement regarding the encampment, saying that “Free and open expression, including peaceful protest, is core to [Cornell’s] values,” but that “it is important that such expression not infringe on the rights of others in our campus community nor pose a risk to public health and safety.”
He continued saying that Cornell policies allow for outdoor camping with prior registration and that the student organization Climate Justice Cornell received permission for “an installation” on the Art’s Quad through 8 pm. However, in his statement, Malina said that the group “had been dishonest in their event registration [and] were in violation of university policy regarding tents.”
Malina added that protest organizers were given time to consider their options and chose not to comply with orders from administration. As a result, he said, “Suspensions for students and HR referrals for faculty and staff will be issued.” Malina said, “This is not an outcome we welcome. We want to provide avenues for everyone to make their voices heard, but this must be done in ways that respect the policies we have in place to protect the public health and safety of our community and the rights of all to do their work.”
In anticipation of Administration ordering law enforcement to clear the area at 8 p.m., CML organizers announced that an “emergency rally” would be held at the “liberation zone” located on the Art’s Quad at 7:30 pm. The rally saw hundreds of students, faculty, and community members show up to form a giant human-chain around the encampment to protect protesters from being displaced by law enforcement.
Wilson said, "Community members formed three rings about [the encampment] and chanted, obstructing access to the zone [and] successfully repelled any attempts at arrests or suspensions."
Around 9:30 p.m. the crowd erupted in cheer as protesters announced that police have said they do not plan on forcing the encampment to leave the Art's Quad tonight, and that additional discussion regarding divestment will continue.
As the encampment continues, Cornell University will have the opportunity to decide if it is really committed to social justice and ethical responsibility in the face of global crises.
The encampment organizers have outlined the following eight demands directed at Cornell University:
Acknowledgment of Cornell's role in the national genocide of Indigenous Peoples through the Morrill Act of 1862 and the sale of nearly 977,909 acres of Indigenous land. This includes returning mineral interests to Tribal Nations, providing restitution for dispossessed nations, establishing an Indigenous Studies department, and returning surplus land in New York state to affected Indigenous communities.
Annual disclosure of a comprehensive account of Cornell's endowment and land holdings and divestment from entities involved in morally reprehensible activities, in accordance with Cornell's 2016 Standard to Guide Divestment Consideration.
Termination of profit-generating partnerships, volunteer arrangements, and other significant corporate and academic affiliations with institutions involved in morally reprehensible activities, including the dissolution of the Jacobs-Technion Cornell Institute and all partnerships with Technion Israel Institute of Technology.
Advocacy for an unconditional, permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Establishment of a Palestinian Studies program within the College of Arts and Sciences, along with an accredited minor accessible to all undergraduate and graduate students. Representation from student organizations, such as "Students for Justice in Palestine" and "Cornell Collective for Justice in Palestine," on committees overseeing the hiring of faculty for the program.
Recognition and protection of anti-Zionist speech, viewpoints, and histories in religious and academic contexts. Affirmation that anti-Zionism is not synonymous with anti-Semitism.
Removal of all police from campus, starting with the elimination of police presence at demonstrations and their replacement with an emergency response team composed of healthcare workers and first responders trained in de-escalation, with majority representation from diverse backgrounds reflective of Cornell's student body.
Ensuring total legal and academic amnesty for all individuals involved with the Liberated Zone and related demonstrations.
(5) comments
This is not student organized. This is being organ8zed by a terrorist organization. Just look at the equipment and tents. ITS ALL NEW. THIS IS BEING SPOND9RED BY HAMAS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS.
Just wondering if we forgive their student loans before or after they chant "DEATH TO AMERICA"?
Matt Dougherty performs a disservice to the Ithaca Times and its readers by repeatedly injecting his personal biases into the newspaper. At one point Matt quotes a student on the importance of open inquiry but how can Ithaca Times readers have honest and open intellectual inquiry when they can't trust the journalistic standards of the newspaper? Regardless of where you stand, it is exactly writing like this that has brought about a decline in trust in journalism and polarization in the news. I rarely pick up the Ithaca Times anymore because it does not often meet basic standards for journalistic integrity, fairness, and objectiveness. If Matt wishes to be a cheerleader for a particular cause he should submit to the opinion section instead.
Meanwhile I have a program so sub-tle, so sin-ister, and so-phisticated to liberate softwares to provide secure communications gear, a program possible only among a people devoted to the highest standards of conduct - such as those exemplified by the heroism of our troops in the prosecution of World War 2 by way of "making things work in an expedient fashion!"
... but naw, that's just hogwash where it's not "udder fantasy!" (I got this way by studying hard on Joseph Heller's Catch-22 in high school, and in case the audience here is still insufficiently CLUED IN: Kelly's Heroes - Oddball takes a rest (71s) ?)
In my case refuge lies in Switzerland rather than Sweden, and coincidentally involves liberating a share of three billion dollars of clawback available on their purchase of F-35A's from Lockheed-Martin, because after all, how DO you know the guy on the other end of your communications link is actually in fact a loyal CONFEDERATE rather than a Republican "Operator?"
Yours Truly, I remain
barmayden Annette-Rose Blayk, COMETMONGER, and freshly-designated
Brevet Rear Admiral Carla Satana of the Royal Vulcan Space Marines!
PS: Also please note as a fundamental point of reference Science Officer Spock on Logic (25 s)
I'm sure whatyou said here is relavant to a discussion somewhere.
And this is why the coward Martha Pollack is "retiring". These kids are so misguided it is sad. It is the failure of our public schools that has created this monster and the influence of dark money to fuel these protests to create havoc in our country. There are kids at these protests that can't even find Israel on a map, yet there they are parroting their rhetoric. How hard would it be for the FBI to track the money that is fueling these anti-American protests?
The sad thing is these young adults are acting like children. When kids misbehave It is the job of the of a parent to correct them. In this case the university is the parent, but nothing is being done. Spare me the “right to protest” nonsense. The fact that faculty is involved is even more appalling. The problem is these children come from a generation that was never told NO, always given a trophy and never told they are wrong or misbehaving. They come from a generation of adults that have told them they can change genders on a whim, that biological men taking away biological women's opportunities is "normal". They have been taught (by the very institution of Cornell) that DEI is the answer and any failure in their lives is because of some magical “oppressor” and not of their own doing. They have been taught to hate the very country and capitalistic system that has provided everything for them is evil and wrong.
NONE of these protests should be allowed on campus property. They are protesting FOR an organization that para-glided into Israel and opened fire on civilians all while laughing and LIVE streaming it on the internet.
Hamas is complaining that they are losing a war THEY started. These students (and their puppet masters) are akin to people complaining about the US bombing Japan after Japan killed thousands at Pearl Harbor. Hamas's own charter calls for the destruction of Israel. There were Hamas representatives saying they would do it all over again after October 7th. Hamas is evil. Palestine elected Hamas to represent them.
Cornell, Professor Russell Rickford was put "on leave" for saying, "he was "exhilarated" and "energized" by the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, in which Hamas murdered more than 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans." He is supposed to be on leave, yet he was back on campus leading the Hamas rallies.
Why was he NOT fired? That alone shows you the leadership, or lack thereof, that Martha Pollack possesses.
Sad.
Cornell, professor Russell Rickford was put "on leave" for saying, "he was "exhilarated" and "energized" by the October 7 terror attacks in Israel, in which Hamas murdered more than 1,200 people, including over 30 Americans."
Why was he NOT fired? That alone shows you the leadership, or lack thereof, that Martha Pollack possesses.
Sad.
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