Brown University students allowed to remain in tents for another night

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Brown University demonstrators can remain in their tents for another night.

The encampment was created to protest the violence in Gaza, but the University wants it gone.

Representatives of Brown and the Gaza Solidarity Encampment met Monday afternoon. There was not an agreement met but the encampment was given a 24 hour extension.

The encampment has been camping on the College Green since Wednesday morning of last week. Monday was their sixth day of protests against the violence in Gaza.

Brown University sent out a letter to some students over the weekend giving them the option to accept conduct violations and disperse from the area with all of their belongings by 5p Monday.

Gaza Solidarity Encampment Spokesperson Arman Deendar said they believe the encampment’s work is effective.

"So I think we are. As a part of this nationwide movement, both putting pressure on the university, and also the university seeing protests happening across the country,” said Deendar.

“Students demanding of accountability, and end of the silence to the institutions, and so I think we've been extremely effective in doing that."

Brown University later sent out letters to those students Monday morning, offering what they describe as a "path forward"

The encampment held a rally at noon, three hours before the university entered negotiations with some of the demonstrators.

Chants and drums were heard at a encampment rally before negotiations.

Signage and Palestinian flags were seen waving over the College Green, as hundreds of Brown students rallied against the violence in Gaza.

"Free Free Palestine... Free Free Palestine,” the group chanted.

But on Monday afternoon, the university entered negotiations with some of the demonstrators.

Brown offered the chance for five students representing the encampment and a few faculty members to speak with Brown Corporation members about their arguments for divestment.

However this is only if the encampment ends peacefully, at a mutually agreed upon time and, as long as there are no more encampments or unauthorized protests for the school year.

"They were able to come to a negotiation giving us hours to extend our acceptance of the disciplinary violations that the university had given to us prior,” said Deendar.

“We’re using that time to draft up a counter proposal to the proposal that Christina Paxson presented to us."

Deendar said they will have to see how conversations develop, but they are pleased to see the university trying to meet them where they are at with the 24 hour extension.

"The president has never really budged on bringing divestment to the corporation in five years since the original report was released,” said Deendar.

“So for the divestment movement on campus this is a huge win."

If an agreement is not met, the same terms that were given over the weekend will apply.