Emails between CPD and DePaul University shed light on the events leading up to the police intervention nearly two weeks ago.

After weeks of negotiations between the DePaul Divestment Coalition and DePaul administration, the pro-Palestinian encampment was dismantled on Thursday, May 16, at 5:30 a.m. Here’s a timeline of what happened in the week leading up to the police intervention on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus. 

Saturday, May 11

DePaul declared an “impasse” with the Divestment Coalition after 12 days of negotiations, saying responses to the encampment had “inadvertently created public safety issues that put our community at risk.” Following the announcement, the Divestment Coalition held a press conference at 8 p.m., where speakers declared students would not leave until DePaul divested. At this point, the future of the encampment was unclear. 

Sunday, May 12 

The Divestment Coalition held a rally at the encampment at 1 p.m., encouraging supporters to show up and bring flags and signs. Pro-Palestinian supporters linked arms at the perimeter of the encampment while some stood at the front of the Quad on the Fullerton side. 

On the other side of campus, Jewish community members gathered in front of the Music School at the intersection of Halsted Street and Fullerton Avenue. 

Monday, May 13

President Robert Manuel sought assistance from the Chicago Police Department, according to emails obtained in response to requests under the Freedom of Information Act. Manuel confirmed with CPD Chief Jon Hein at 2:31 p.m. that DePaul “agrees to the terms” and “affirms the request for assistance from CPD.”  

This image shows President Rob Manuel’s email to Chief Jon Hein confirming CPD’s involvement in the clearing of DePaul’s encampment. The email was obtained in a public records request by Sam Freeman.

The terms that DePaul agreed to include the following from Hein’s email: “I am writing to confirm the Chicago Police Department’s understanding that DePaul University wishes for the CPD to assist with clearing individuals from DePaul University property and specifically the quad. It is also the CPD’s understanding that any individuals who remain on DePaul University property after being given notice to vacate are to be arrested on the signed complaint of a DePaul University administrator and will participate in all court proceedings.” 

DePaul administrator and Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary Kathryn Steiber agreed, in the same email chain, to sign the complaint. 

Later that evening, DePaul Student Involvement announced that Fest, which was scheduled to take place Friday, May 17, was canceled. Students who’d already paid for tickets would be refunded, according to the DPU Student Involvement social media page.  

Wednesday, May 15

The Divestment Coalition staged a walkout and community rally for Nakba Day. Students left their classes and gathered at the DePaul Quad, chanting, “Free free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” 

Thursday, May 16

CPD and DePaul Public Safety cleared out the encampment at 5:30 a.m. Manuel sent an email four minutes later to notify parents and students of the disassembly. 

After the clearing, students gathered across the street at the Mobil gas station on Fullerton Avenue, where they chanted and held signs until about 1 p.m. At DePaul, there was a large press conference where Chief Jon Hein confirmed the arrest of two students, one male and one female, for obstruction of traffic. Both were released later that day, according to a social media post by the Divestment Coalition. Pro-Palestinian supporters reconvened outside the Lincoln Park Student Center that evening and continued to rally until about 10 p.m. 

This week on May 29, the Divestment Coalition held a “sit-in” at Arts and Letters Hall to show solidarity for Rafah after an Israeli strike killed at least 37 people. The results of the Student Government Association (SGA) election were also announced this week. Of the nearly 2,000 students who voted, 91% were in favor of the DePaul Divest Referendum, which “makes support of divestment a binding position of the Student Government Association for the entirety of the upcoming academic year,” according to a social media post from the Divestment Coalition.

Header photo by Alexandra Murphy