Occidental College strikes deal with protesters, will vote on divesting from Israel-linked companies

Jonathan Williams
·2 min read
2

Occidental College in Los Angeles has agreed to vote on whether to sever ties with companies tied to Israel’s military in a deal with pro-Palestian protesters who formed an encampment on campus.

Occidental’s Students for Justice in Palestine’s encampment began about a week ago, starting with around 15 tents and growing to well over 100. They are demanding the college

Students for Justice in Palestine’s divestment proposal requires the college to investigate and disclose any investments in Boeing Co., Elbit Systems, Caterpillar Inc., and Lockheed Martin, the Los Angeles Times reported.

In exchange, demonstrators agreed to vacate the encampment.

Occidental’s Board of Trustees will hold a vote by June 6.

This marks the second tentative agreement between a major university and protest groups in Southern California. At the University of California, Riverside, protestors reached an agreement with school administrators to end the encampment on campus after several days of demonstrations.

“I am pleased to share that we have reached an agreement that will result in the peaceful conclusion of the encampment by no later than midnight tonight,” Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox said in a post on their website last Friday.

UC Riverside agreed to discontinue its School of Business Global Programs in Oxford, England, Cuba, Vietnam, Brazil, China, Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, saying they “were not offered under the auspices of the UC Riverside Office of International Affairs, nor are they consistent with university policies.”

As graduations begin, USC prepares for more protests

College campuses nationwide have been grappling with pro-Palestinian demonstrations in reaction to the Israel-Hamas conflict that started on Oct. 7, 2023.

In Southern California, graduations at institutions such as USC and UCLA are approaching. Protests also took place at UC Irvine, Cal State Long Beach, Pitzer College and Claremont College, among others.

Last month, USC canceled its main commencement in favor of a celebration at the Coliseum. UCLA has yet to cancel its commencement, which begins on June 16.

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