Identity of Speakers
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Pro-Palestinian Encampment
Student
Other
Resources
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Rally or protest
Other
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
Campus police
Other Law Enforcement
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
In late April and early May 2024, students at the University of Massachusetts Amherst organized a sustained protest encampment advocating for Palestinian rights and calling on the university to divest from companies supporting the Israeli military. The initial encampment began on April 29, 2024, on the South Lawn near the campus pond, led by groups including Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), UMass Dissenters, and Faculty for Justice in Palestine. The protestors demanded increased university accountability on issues related to racial justice and international solidarity.
On April 30, 2024, university officials and Amherst police cleared the first encampment, resulting in several arrests. Despite this, students re-established a larger encampment on May 7, 2024, which lasted several days and became a focal point for campus activism. The police response to the second encampment involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including campus police and the Amherst Police Department, and led to the arrest of over 130 people, including students, faculty, and community members. The arrests sparked widespread debate and concern over the use of force and the right to protest on campus.
In the weeks following the crackdown, university administrators issued civil infractions rather than criminal charges for many of those arrested, attempting to balance enforcement with the protection of free speech. However, criticism mounted from student groups, faculty, and civil liberties advocates who argued the university’s heavy-handed approach violated the rights of peaceful protesters.
In response, Chancellor Javier Reyes commissioned an independent review conducted by the Boston law firm Prince Lobel Tye, which was released in January 2025. The report found that while the decision to involve law enforcement and clear the encampment was within reason, the university could have pursued alternative, less confrontational approaches to address the protest. The incident also led to a vote of no confidence in Chancellor Reyes by faculty and librarians, underscoring the deep divisions within the campus community.
The university spent approximately $446,000 on the external review, reflecting the significant financial and reputational impact of the protests.
