On Feb. 6, about 15 students led by Bowdoin’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) group gathered outside Smith Union on Bowdoin’s campus, chanting and making their way inside. There they remained for four full days in a protest for Palestine that resulted in the temporary suspension of eight students.
These students were protesting Bowdoin’s financial involvements in Israel, President Trump’s goal of annexing Gaza and the college administration’s hesitation to implement the Bowdoin Solidarity Referendum. The document outlines student requests to begin a partial divestment from Israel, take a stand against Israeli-led scholasticide, expose Bowdoin’s allotted funds for arms manufacturing and design an independent investment board.
This encampment was quickly embraced by members of the student body. Those participating in the encampment inside Smith Union set up tents, ate Palestinian food and engaged in recreational activities on top of their chants. Bowdoin SJP stated their intention was not to inconvenience students and faculty using the space, but rather to raise awareness and draw attention to their cause.
Administration interrupted the protest on multiple occasions, threatening disciplinary action if students remained inside the building. Security reportedly shut down Smith Union on the morning of Feb. 7, and the building remained closed until the end of the demonstration. As administration’s calls to end the protest became more serious, so did their warnings. Eventually, eight students were placed on temporary suspension pending formal hearings.
The University of Maine’s Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP) organization has organized pro-Palestine protests in the past, such as marches, rallies and advocacy at UMaine Board of Trustees (BoT) meetings. Because of their common interests and goals, they took to defending Bowdoin SJP.
“The encampment created by Bowdoin SJP was not actually inhibiting use of the Smith Union – it was Bowdoin administration, by locking the doors, that made the encampment disruptive towards student life. Furthermore, by suspending student activists instead of admitting the failure to implement the Bowdoin Solidarity Referendum, the Bowdoin administration demonstrated an embarrassing lack of respect for their own students,” UMaine JVP said.
UMaine JVP reports that they have had no similar incidents following any of their protests. While Bowdoin SJP protesters are now facing disciplinary consequences for their actions, UMaine JVP stated that so far, the only tangible negative response they have received was the theft of a Palestinian flag.
“At the University of Maine, we have faced no organized opposition from students, faculty, or administrators. While during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot last semester our Palestinian flag was stolen from the Sukkah we had erected on the mall, the majority of students we’ve interacted with here support our mission and want to see our university end its financial support of apartheid,” said UMaine JVP.
Any students interested in supporting or joining UMaine JVP can learn more at their website. Additionally, they have an upcoming protest on March 7 at 1 p.m. on the steps of Fogler Library to demand that the BoT divest financially from Israel.
