BLOOMINGTON – About 50 Indiana University Police officers and Indiana State Police troopers forcefully detained 23 protesters and took down the encampment at Dunn Meadow on Friday, April 26, the second day of protests.
Police responded to an encampment at Dunn Meadow at approximately 12:20 p.m., according to a press release from the Indiana University Public Safety Department.
According to a news release, officers gave six verbal warnings to remove the structures. At approximately 12:35 p.m., individuals who refused to remove structures from university property were detained and removed.
“After numerous written and verbal communications that free speech and protest are permissible but the presence of unapproved temporary or permanent structures violates university policy, a group of individuals erected numerous tents and canopies on Friday night with the stated intention to occupy the university space indefinitely,” said IU Public Information Officer, Hannah Skibba.
Police officers reportedly made one final request at 3:46 p.m. for the tents and canopies to be removed. Ten minutes later, IUPD officers arrested the individuals who had not removed the structures.
Officers transported those detained by bus to the Monroe County Justice Center on charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement.
It is unknown if any of the individuals arrested are students.
Police say more than 30 protestors were arrested on Thursday while calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on the Bloomington campus. Officers were alerted around 11 a.m. to respond to Dunn Meadow Park. Protestors had gathered on the campus and were calling attention to the growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as the conflict between Israel and Hamas continues.
Just after 8 p.m., police arrived to disperse the crowd, which had erected tents and canopies as part of their protest, which violated IU policy.
Police told protestors they could continue their protests, but the tents had to be removed.
“The Bloomington Police Department has had no involvement in policing the protests,” Thompson said, “no involvement in the dismantling of the encampment, has made no arrests related to the protests and has my instruction not to be involved in these activities.
“I’m supportive of the protestors and their freedom to express themselves. I’m not supportive of unauthorized encampments, nor of violence.”
She added protestors would be welcome at Dunn Meadow, though unauthorized encampments will continue to be removed.
“What’s happening at Dunn Meadow currently is part of a national movement on college campuses,” Thompson said. “And it has attracted some who are believed to have an outside agenda, and indeed, be from outside our community. These agendas are known to be less than peaceful.
“The university asked the state police to come to Bloomington to enforce the removal of the encampment at Dunn Meadow on Thursday, and 10s of arrests have been made in two separate events to dismantle the encampment.”
According to a post by Indiana University, “IU encourages and respects free speech, including the right to peacefully protest and demonstrate. Consistent with university policy, the installation of temporary structures requires advanced approval and camping is not allowed overnight. IU students, faculty, staff and visitors are expected to comply with both university policy and state law. Students are held accountable to the Student Code of Conduct. These policies are in place to safeguard the IU community.”
Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson released a statement clarifying remarks made on Saturday, April 27, in a video posted on the City of Bloomington Office of the Mayor Facebook page, regarding arrests made on the Indiana University campus.
“Bloomington, I’m coming to you today with an apology. I see now that my statement yesterday was less than clear, and that one statement in particular was harmful. When I ran for office I committed to listening hard, and to admitting when I am wrong.
In my message about the protests yesterday, I made a statement about the presence of outside groups. We had reports of Proud Boys and other involvement, and I had concern about the possibility of escalation beyond what our students and faculty present on campus were gathered to achieve. This statement, I see now, pointed the finger in the way I had not intended. I am sorry.
I also spoke of the need to remain peaceful in protesting and ensure de-escalation rather than use of force. I was not clear in that statement: I was referring to the state police advance on peaceful protesters when I believe all routes to de-escalation had not been met. The purpose of my message yesterday was really intended to stand with the peaceful protesters and be clear that our police department—the Bloomington Police Department—would not be involved in advancing on the protesters. In fact, they advised against any such action. I see that was not clear, and I apologize for that as well.
I met yesterday with a few students who told me they were part of the organizing group for the protest. I value their insights, as I do with all of our residents who take their time to engage. I appreciate responses to my thoughts, even when you disagree, and I’m particularly grateful to hear in this instance when my message had consequences I had not foreseen.
I hope that in the future, there will be greater communication and collaboration with our team when Indiana University undertakes actions that affect all of Bloomington, not just campus. As I said yesterday, I stand with the protestors’ right to free speech, their right to assemble, and I ask that any future police involvement happens only when all de-escalation paths have been exhausted.”
State Rep. Matt Pierce (D-Bloomington) released the following statement regarding the unwarranted actions of the Indiana University administration to arrest peaceful protesters:
State Rep. Matt Pierce
“Yesterday, the Indiana University administration betrayed more than 50 years of support for free expression on campus by choosing to use force to shut down a peaceful protest and arresting students and faculty exercising their First Amendment rights.
“A University policy that has designated Dunn Meadow as a ‘public forum for expression on all subjects’ since 1969 was blatantly violated by the leaders of the University without justification. A policy that has withstood anti-Vietnam War protests, months-long shanty towns to protest apartheid in South Africa, the Gulf War, and numerous other controversies was summarily changed by an unknown committee with no public notice or input.
“It’s clear this alleged policy change was directly targeted at a specific protest with speech the University wished to suppress. That is a textbook violation of the First Amendment.
“It’s ironic that University leaders who continually use the excuse of potential violence to suppress speech it opposes invited onto campus state police with military-style weapons that included what appeared to be snipers stationed on rooftops to force a physical confrontation with protesters. This reckless decision is indefensible. Does President Whitten not remember Kent State?
“President Whitten must correct this grievous violation of First Amendment rights by requesting all criminal charges against those arrested be dropped and rescinding any year-long bans from campus that have been issued against the protesters.”
