The Art Institute of Chicago was the scene of a dramatic showdown on Saturday as police forcibly dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment and arrested dozens of protesters. The demonstrators, including students from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, had set up tents in the North Garden of the museum earlier in the day.
According to the Chicago police, officers were called in to remove the protesters at the school’s request. A total of 68 people were arrested and charged with trespassing. The People’s Art Institute, the organizers of the protest, stated that their demands included condemning Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, removing programs that support the occupation of Palestine, and divesting from entities that support Israeli occupation.
The protesters had named their encampment “Hind’s Garden,” in honor of a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in the conflict earlier this year. The school offered the protesters an alternate venue and assured students that they would not face academic sanctions if they relocated there.
However, tensions escalated as some protesters allegedly surrounded and shoved a security officer, stole keys to the museum, and barricaded gates. After negotiations failed to resolve the situation, the museum requested police intervention. Videos posted by the organizers showed officers forcibly removing protesters from the garden as chants of “Who do you protect? Who do you serve?” filled the air.
The incident at the Art Institute of Chicago is just the latest in a series of protests in support of Palestine that have taken place across the country in recent weeks. The clash between protesters and police highlights the ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the passionate activism it has sparked.
