U of U group rallies to support Palestinians, USU students plan peaceful demonstration
Apr 30, 2024, 4:34 PM | Updated: May 1, 2024, 5:07 pm

Demonstrators lock arms in front of a police line at the President’s Circle in support of Palestine at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 29, 2024. (Marielle Scott/Deseret News)
(Marielle Scott/Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — The University of Utah student-led group that organized the pro-Palestinian and Gaza protest and encampment on campus Monday are gathered at President’s Circle on the U’s campus and the Salt Lake County Jail.
The rally comes after 19 people were arrested and the encampment was broken up overnight.
According to a post from Mecha de U of U, they are gathered at the jail to call for the release of a fellow protester, who they say was arrested at President’s Circle.
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Mecha repeated its demands from Monday, saying that the university must disclose and divest ties with Israel.
The University of Utah rally and encampment reflect a series of demonstrations on college campuses across the US.
On Tuesday, Columbia University threatened to expel protesters who took over an administrative building.
U of U rally followed by USU demonstration
Locally, students at Utah State University plan to hold a three-day, peaceful demonstration for a “Free Palestine.” The demonstration will be at the school’s Logan, Utah campus starting Wednesday at noon.
A post from the demonstration’s organizers said they were “demanding a permanent ceasefire.”
Organizers said the demonstration would not be an encampment.
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