A group of anti-Israel protesters at the University of Minnesota campus occupied and vandalized an administrative building, resulting in the arrests of 11 individuals. The protesters, affiliated with UMN Students for a Democratic Society, demanded that the university divest from companies that support Israel, a demand the university had previously refused to comply with during summer protests.
The protesters gathered on a campus lawn before moving to Morrill Hall, where they entered the building and began spray painting, breaking windows, and barricading entrance and exit points. University staff working in the building at the time were unable to leave for an extended period. Photos and videos from the scene show protesters chanting and holding Palestinian flags, with some using chairs, tables, and bike locks to barricade a door.
University of Minnesota Police, assisted by the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, entered the building and made the arrests. The full extent of the damage caused by the protesters is still unknown, and the university stated that the investigation is ongoing.
This incident is part of a wave of similar protests on college campuses across the country in response to Israel's actions in Gaza. The university has not provided further details on the situation, and no additional information is currently available.