Pro-Palestinian Protesters Arrested at University of Minnesota
- A pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Minnesota escalated from a peaceful assembly to a more aggressive demonstration involving barricading an administrative building.
- The incident began around 3 p.m. local time and led to the arrest of 11 protesters after they locked staff members inside Morrill Hall and vandalized the premises.
- The situation was resolved around 9:10 p.m., with the university launching an investigation into the protest's impact and the extent of the damage.
On October 21, 2024, the University of Minnesota experienced a significant protest that started as a peaceful assembly on the lawn of Coffman Memorial Union but rapidly shifted in nature. Shortly after 3 p.m. local time, a group of pro-Palestinian activists moved to Morrill Hall, where they barricaded entrances and exits, trapping university staff inside. The escalation prompted the university to issue a SAFE-U Emergency Alert to advise those inside to exit and to warn others to avoid the area. The demonstrators proceeded to spray paint various areas within the building, covering security camera lenses and breaking windows. This aggressive behavior led to police intervention, with officers arriving on the scene an hour after the alert was triggered. The response included the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, and by approximately 5:40 p.m., law enforcement was able to enter the building and make 11 arrests. Following the incident, another alert was sent out at 9:10 p.m., indicating that the situation had been resolved and that Morrill Hall was cleared. As of the university's latest updates, the full extent of the damages caused during the protest remained unknown, and officials confirmed that an investigation was ongoing to assess the impact of these disturbances. The events reflect ongoing tensions regarding pro-Palestinian activism on university campuses and highlight the difficulties in managing intense demonstrations while ensuring the safety of all individuals present.