20 Brown Univ. Students Arrested In Sit-In Over War In Gaza: Reports

PROVIDENCE, RI — Brown University students with BrownU Jews for Ceasefire Now gathered at University Hall Wednesday and refused to leave until the university president agreed to divest from companies they say are profiting off the war in Israel — until police stepped in, according to multiple reports.

In a letter obtained by the Boston Globe, students demanded Brown's president, Christina Paxson, publicly commit in the next meeting of the Brown Corporation to detach itself from "companies that enable war crimes in Gaza."

"In light of the ongoing genocide occurring in Gaza backed by American aid, weapons, media, politicians, and academic institutions, we, BrownU Jews for Ceasefire Now, call on Brown University to do its part to promote an immediate ceasefire and a lasting peace," the statement continued.

The sit-in started around 1 p.m. Around 5:45 p.m.—and after university officials issued multiple warnings of impending arrests if students did not leave—Providence police began escorting protestors out of the building and into police transport vans, officials told the Globe.

Brown spokesman Brian Clark told the Globe in a statement that while the university "respects and upholds freedom of expression," the "time, place, and manner" are subject to regulation on campus "to prevent interference with the normal functions of the university" — and gathering in a hallway is against fire codes.

Video shared on social media shows hundreds of students loudly singing in solidarity with the protesters as they were led into police vehicles in handcuffs.

Patch reached out to Brown University and the Providence Police Department for more information.