Protesters arrested in pro-Palestine protest at midwest University

Thirteen pro-Palestine protesters have been arrested late Monday after barricading themselves inside an administration building at the University of Minnesota, igniting a heated clash over campus policies regarding protests and university investments.

According to university officials, the University of Minnesota Police Department, with assistance from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, entered the building to remove the barricade.

The protesters had used metal tables, chairs, bike racks, and wooden pallets to block access, locking the doors with bike locks after marching from a rally outside Coffman Union. During the protest, university employees were present inside the building but were safely guided to an unblocked exit by the demonstrators.

The protest was sparked by the SDS’s condemnation of the university’s financial ties to arms companies, which they argue contribute to the ongoing violence in Gaza, where the death toll has exceeded 42,700 amid a prolonged offensive. In a symbolic act, the protesters renamed the building Halimy Hall in honor of Medo Halimy, a 19-year-old Palestinian TikTok creator who was killed in an Israeli airstrike in August.

Sasmit Rahman, an SDS member, stated, “Our fight is just, and the consequences of our protests are incomparable to the situation in Gaza.” He confirmed that the protesters plan to remain until their demands are met, adding that 11 of their group members are currently unaccounted for.

The event has drawn attention to the broader discussions surrounding university investment policies and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region, highlighting the intersection of education, activism, and global conflict.