Nineteen students were arrested on Friday during a campus protest at Pomona College. Several students expressed surprise at the heavy-handed response from the police.
A group of pro-Palestinian students convened at the college on Friday for a peaceful sit-down protest. However, the situation escalated when the protesters decided to occupy the office of the college president.
Pomona Divest Apartheid, the organizing group, stated on Instagram that they entered Alexander Hall on the campus to protest the “forceful removal of their apartheid wall,” which displayed artwork from students advocating for Palestine. The paneled wall, measuring 32 feet in length, had been in place since March 28.
In a letter dated April 5, Pomona College President Gabrielle Starr addressed the Pomona College community, acknowledging the presence of masked individuals who have been occupying a section of the Smith Campus Center (SCC) lawn for the past week.
According to her, setting up tents on campus goes against the policy, but she emphasized that the right to protest is still protected.
According to Starr, campus staff followed protocol and started removing the signs and other materials in preparation for the upcoming events on Sunday. They also informed the individuals present that they had the option to move their own belongings or have them stored for pickup. As a result of this removal, the protesters relocated to the president’s office.
According to the Claremont police, the campus security staff reported that a group of 100 to 150 protesters gathered outside the president’s office, while another 30 to 40 individuals forcefully entered the building.
A representative from the Claremont Police Department stated that the School Administration promptly initiated communication with the protesters. However, the protesters persisted in their refusal to vacate the building.
Pitzer College student Analise Bacosa Pugh provided a vivid account of the police’s intense response. According to Pugh, as they entered the scene, officers were fully equipped with riot gear, creating an imposing presence. She noted that several officers carried large rifles, measuring around two and a half feet long, securely strapped across their chests. Additionally, all officers were equipped with batons and had their helmets firmly in place.
After being apprehended for trespassing, the students were brought to the Claremont Police Department. At the station, they were met with a gathering of demonstrators.
On Saturday, Diana Truong, a Pomona College student, expressed her astonishment at the police’s reaction after she spent the night in jail.
“We thought we were doing the right thing by standing up for each other,” Truong explained. “I can still feel the pain in my hands from the encounter with the riot police armed with their intimidating guns.”
President Starr stated that campus safety and administrators were willing to help with relocating the materials to the area near Walker Wall, which has always been a space where active dissent can thrive.
“We made it clear both verbally and in writing that we wanted the individuals to stop their harassment and identify themselves. Despite our instructions, they persisted in their harassment for over two hours while holding onto the signs. There is absolutely no justification for this behavior, and there is no excuse for refusing to provide identification on our campus,” stated Starr.
According to her, students from Pomona who took part in the events on Friday may face “immediate suspension.”
