SJP protests amid suspension following divestment request rejection

On Monday afternoon, metal barricades and Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) personnel could be seen in front of the College Avenue Student Center as the currently suspended Students for Justice in Palestine at Rutgers—New Brunswick (SJP) protested in the name of "Strike Three."

Students were asked to show RUIDs at the door, with police and security guarding both main entrances to the building. One individual who appeared to enter without one was quickly approached by multiple RUPD officers.

The protest is SJP's response to the University's denial of the Endowment Justice Collective's divestment request, according to an Instagram post by SJP.

Strike One was the chair of the University's Joint Committee on Investments removing himself from a divestment meeting with SJP, hours before the group met with the Board of Trustees, as previously reported by The Daily Targum.

Strike Two was the University's subsequent suspension of SJP in July, though two different dates have been provided: the University wrote July 25, but SJP wrote July 5. But Strike Three — the rejection of the divestment request — took place on July 10, according to SJP's Instagram post, meaning suspension could have occurred either before or after the official decision.

RUPD Special Operations, Emergency Management and Security personnel were among the law enforcement present inside and outside the Student Center. The Targum counted four RUPD vehicles and 12 personnel outside the Student Center.

A University spokesperson wrote to the Targum that RUPD's presence was routine.

"We have an event going on tonight … It's just added security," an officer at the site told the Targum.

The only other event at the Student Center at that time appeared to be a business casual clothing pop-up, at which no RUPD officers could be found.

The protest commenced at approximately 2:30 p.m., with an RUPD officer asking the group of approximately 20 people to move to the other side of the red bricks outside the Student Center, with a request to "vacate the property and move to the city sidewalk." A University spokesperson added that the purpose of this instruction was to clear the entrance to the Student Center.

The group complied and chanted for approximately 1 hour before moving to the front of Alexander Library, also on the College Avenue campus.

After the group's relocation in front of Alexander Library, an RUPD officer instructed SJP to disperse or potentially face arrest and prosecution, citing noncompliance with state law, according to the group's Instagram story from Monday. SJP, whose members allege that the group did not obstruct the walkway in front of Alexander Library, moved to the sidewalk beyond another line of red bricks, which it said was not University property.

Two members of SJP further explained on the group's Instagram story that an unnamed University administrator informed SJP of a member's expulsion in relation to Monday's protest, which the University was unable to confirm due to confidentiality. 

Additionally, it is undetermined whether the space the group occupied at the beginning of the protest and after its relocation near Alexander Library constitute University grounds and are therefore subject to the University's free expression notification and designated demonstration space requirements, but the University spokesperson said the event will be reviewed against student conduct policies.