PITTSBURGH (TNS) — A pro-Palestine protest that occupied the University of Pittsburgh’s campus for about 30 hours came to an end early Tuesday morning, according to Pittsburgh police and a protest leader.
A barricaded encampment began Monday outside Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning and more than 300 people filled the grounds. Some protesters clashed with police and at least one was arrested Sunday evening.
Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto told TribLive news partner WTAE that the protest came to a peaceful end just before 2 a.m. He said the protesters came to resolution after meeting with Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey. Gainey is expected to address the negotiations during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
No additional arrests were made overnight, Scirotto said.
“We were able to have a peaceful resolution to what was a long two days, and that’s what we’re looking to,” Scirotto said.
Pitt officials, in a statement, said protesters voluntarily left the encampment.
“The mayor’s office, in close coordination with university leadership and public safety teams from the University of Pittsburgh, City of Pittsburgh Police, Allegheny County Sheriff’s office, and Pennsylvania State Police led negotiations with protesters who were largely unaffiliated with the university,” the statement said. “The Cathedral of Learning lawn is now cleared, and the rest of the campus is open and under normal operations.
Protester Cory Roma posted on X that the encampment was peacefully dispersed around 1:50 a.m. after negotiations were reached between campers and local officials.
“I was here when this camp started, and I’m here when it ended. And I’m proud to (have) been a visible & vocal participant,” wrote Roma.
The protesters were calling for a ceasefire in the Israel/Hamas war, asking Pitt divest from any investments related to Israel, demilitarizing the campus police force, and other demands. The group called Pitt Divest was apparently leading the protesters.
It is unclear what negotiations were made and Pitt Divest has yet to issue a statement.
Pittsburgh Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak said city officials were present for negotiations, but university officials were not.
The resolution comes just hours after action escalated at the encampment Monday evening.
Last night, a University of Pittsburgh Police officer briefly aimed what appeared to be a beanbag shotgun at a small group of protesters that attempted to rush up steps toward an encampment at the Cathedral of Learning.
Another Pitt officer confirmed it was one of their less or non-lethal tools.
Students erupted into chants of “put the gun down” and “hands up, don’t shoot” in response to the officers’ actions.
Many people lobbed water bottles over the police line to people in the encampment during the commotion. Police could be seen on a TribLive video shoving some people who tried to enter the encampment.
At least one chant leader with a megaphone lost their voice.
On Monday, university officials condemned the protesters and claimed that protest leaders were not affiliated with Pitt in any way. Protesters denied these claims and said their leadership was made up of students, staff, and faculty at Pitt.
A clean-up crew on Tuesday picked up remnants of the encampment. No damage could be seen at the Cathedral of Learning. Otherwise, all was fairly quiet.
