University of Houston issues statement after students arrested during pro-Palestinian protest

HOUSTON (KIAH) — The University of Houston released a statement regarding the pro-Palestinian protest that resulted in the arrest of two students Wednesday.

CW39 has since learned that one student was arrested for failing to identify himself and another for assaulting a police officer and resisting arrest.

Students from UH’s Justice in Palestine group organized the “Divest from Death” protest to express solidarity with Gaza and demand that UH “wash its hands of genocide” by divestment from companies they say , facilitate endless war, death and destruction in Palestine and around the world. world.

“We are here because two of our comrades were arrested after the police violently demolished our camp. We pressured the school to divest from gun manufacturers and show that as students, we are united in divestment no matter what. Since 2016, the University of Houston has invested in weapons manufacturers. We passed two resolutions urging the university to disengage, but they took no action. »

Reyna, UH University of Houston Student Government Association

STUDENT REQUIREMENTS:

In a press release, UH students issued the following demands regarding campus administration.

1. UH must fully disengage from companies complicit and directly facilitating war, occupation, policing, militarism and death in Palestine and around the world.

2. UH shall implement a Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) policy in the Endowment Statement of Objectives and Policies that prohibits investment in occupation, apartheid, and militarism.

3. UH must remove McDonalds, Sabra and Starbucks from campus because of their financial support of Israel.

In a statement released by the university, UH said an encampment was set up by 60 people on campus at Butler Plaza overnight, but was later demolished because the tents and encampments were not not permitted on campus grounds, per state law.

However, the group was allowed to continue their protest, per UH policies.

“We support the constitutional rights to free speech and peaceful assembly and continue to encourage groups to engage in expressive activities safely, while respecting university policies and the laws of the State, and respecting the rights of others with divergent opinions. »

University of Houston

This is a developing story; we will update once we know more.