{"id":33251,"date":"2024-04-29T11:44:49","date_gmt":"2024-04-29T18:44:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=33251"},"modified":"2024-04-29T11:49:37","modified_gmt":"2024-04-29T18:49:37","slug":"24-hours-at-the-free-palestine-encampment-uc-berkeley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/04\/29\/24-hours-at-the-free-palestine-encampment-uc-berkeley\/","title":{"rendered":"24 hours at the Free Palestine Encampment &#8211; UC Berkeley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Riley%20Cooke\">Riley Cooke<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Kiana%20Sezawar%20Keshavarz\">Kiana Sezawar Keshavarz<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Aarya%20Mukherjee\">Aarya Mukherjee<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Rae%20Wymer\">Rae Wymer<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Apr 25, 2024  (DailyCal.org)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com\/dailycal.org\/content\/tncms\/assets\/v3\/editorial\/b\/cc\/bcc53a6a-033f-11ef-ab65-a3bb373f21df\/662ab87fa27d5.image.jpg?resize=400%2C258\" alt=\"encampment_Anita-Liu_ss.jpg\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">UC Berkeley students join a nationwide movement calling for university divestment. The encampment\u2019s constituency includes students, faculty and alumni. Food donations from community members support the protesters, and volunteers assist those with dietary restrictions.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Anita%20Liu\">Anita Liu | Senior Staff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>College students across the country are taking over open spaces on their campuses in solidarity with Gaza, yet how the encampments live and operate is unknown to those who haven\u2019t pitched their own tent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Daily Californian spent 24 hours with the Free Palestine Encampment\u2019s residents beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday to better understand the motivations of the protesters leading Berkeley\u2019s participation in a national movement for university divestment. UC Berkeley\u2019s cohort is specifically calling for \u201cdivestment from the Israeli state and from all companies profiting from the colonization of Palestine,\u201d among other demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While other student protests across the country are making headlines for confrontations with police, mass suspensions and political scrutiny, the scenes at UC Berkeley are calm.&nbsp;There have been no reported altercations or arrests relating to the protest as of press time, and despite the encampment being on the steps of UCPD\u2019s headquarters, police were nowhere to be seen through the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMostly, it\u2019s been really beautiful to see so many students and community members so passionate about standing in solidarity with Gaza and fighting together. Honestly, it has just been very heartwarming,\u201d said Cecilia Lunaparra, District 7 city council member-elect who slept at the encampment.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"990\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-70.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33259\" srcset=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-70.png 990w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-70-300x193.png 300w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-70-150x97.png 150w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-70-768x495.png 768w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-70-233x150.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Kyle Garcia Takata | Senior Staff<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yousuf Abubakr, an undergraduate organizer, described a \u201cmixed bag\u201d of stress and excitement by the second night. He had been out at the encampment for 34 hours straight by then, but he said the conversations he had with students kept him going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The encampment constituency is made up of a diverse coalition of students, community members, staff, faculty and alumni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Throughout the night, a steady rotation of volunteer security guarded the dozens who slept in the tents \u2014 many were quietly catching up on coursework as they kept watch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"990\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-71.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33261\" srcset=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-71.png 990w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-71-300x193.png 300w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-71-150x97.png 150w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-71-768x495.png 768w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-71-233x150.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4\" height=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-66.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33254\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Anita%20Liu\">Anita Liu | Senior Staff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cole, a Berkeley Law student who asked to be referred to only by his first name, described sleeping in two-hour \u201cspurts\u201d and studying late at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leila, an organizer with Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine who asked to be referred to by just her first name, reflected on similarities between campus causes for Palestine and the Third World Liberation Movement.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe&#8217;re realizing that our struggles are not so different from each other, and we&#8217;re finding ways to mobilize around that,\u201d Leila said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"990\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-72.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33262\" srcset=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-72.png 990w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-72-300x193.png 300w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-72-150x97.png 150w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-72-768x495.png 768w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-72-233x150.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4\" height=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-65.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33253\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Kyle%20Garcia%20Takata\">Kyle Garcia Takata | Senior Staff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Some student organizations pitched their own tents adorned with flags and banners, including Jewish Voice for Peace, Cal YDSA and Cal Berkeley Democrats.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe divestment coalition has over 75 organizations representing over 7000 students, so this is not a spur of the moment decision,\u201d said Banan Abdelrahman, a member of Graduate Students for Justice in Palestine and an organizer for the UC Berkeley Divestment Coalition.&nbsp;\u201cThis is a very intentional decision to let everyone know that business cannot go on as usual.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Protesters shared dinner around 8 p.m. Tuesday with food donated by community members to the encampment\u2019s participants. On-site student volunteers helped guide those with dietary restrictions, taking observances such as Passover into account.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe have actually asked people to stop giving food because of the abundance of food and donations,\u201d Abdelrahman said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"990\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-73.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33263\" srcset=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-73.png 990w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-73-300x193.png 300w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-73-150x97.png 150w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-73-768x495.png 768w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-73-233x150.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4\" height=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-67.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33255\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Anita%20Liu\">Anita Liu | Senior Staff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Reporters were directed to specific media contacts on-site, and organizers instructed campers not to speak to journalists in order to prevent inaccurate or outdated information from spreading.&nbsp;Encampments at other universities have enacted similar policies to limit the potential for outside agitators to take advantage of the movement\u2019s publicity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Organizers and students were being assisted by National Lawyers Guild volunteers, who wore neon green hats and orange safety vests to distinguish themselves.\u00a0Camilo P\u00e9rez-Bustillo, the San Francisco chapter\u2019s executive director, said the guild is there to inform students of their rights as protesters and take note of any police interactions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"990\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-74.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33264\" srcset=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-74.png 990w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-74-300x193.png 300w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-74-150x97.png 150w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-74-768x495.png 768w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-74-233x150.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4\" height=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-64.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33252\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Anita%20Liu\">Anita Liu | Senior Staff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>During the day, student organizers played recorded messages and hosted a range of public teach-ins delivered by graduate students, faculty and staff.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While the demonstration was inspired by similar actions at Columbia University and other colleges across the country, organizers stressed the importance of focusing attention on Palestine and the war in Gaza.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>By 5 p.m. Wednesday, the encampment had expanded to more than 80 tents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNone of us want to be here in camps. We have beds. We have finals. It is sad we have to do this to get the university\u2019s attention,\u201d Abubakr said. \u201cBut we have to be here for Palestine and Palestinian voices.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"990\" height=\"638\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-75.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33265\" srcset=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-75.png 990w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-75-300x193.png 300w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-75-150x97.png 150w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-75-768x495.png 768w, http:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-75-233x150.png 233w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 990px) 100vw, 990px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"4\" height=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/image-68.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-33256\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailycal.org\/users\/profile\/Kyle%20Garcia%20Takata\">Kyle Garcia Takata | Senior Staff<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>College students across the country are taking over open spaces on their campuses in solidarity with Gaza, yet how the encampments live and operate is unknown to those who haven\u2019t pitched their own tent. The Daily Californian spent 24 hours with the Free Palestine Encampment\u2019s residents beginning at 5 p.m&#8230;. <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2024\/04\/29\/24-hours-at-the-free-palestine-encampment-uc-berkeley\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33251"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33251"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33251\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33266,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33251\/revisions\/33266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}