Protesters began dismantling parts of Pomona College’s commencement stage late Thursday afternoon, extending the barrier of a pro-Palestinian encampment just days before graduation.
Large banners that read “The people’s campus for Palestine” and the Palestinian flag hung from the supports of the commencement stage, where protesters have been camped out since early Monday. Activities honoring the Class of 2024 are set to begin Friday and conclude Sunday.
Signs shaped like shields with phrases such as “4 the kids in Gaza” and “let Gaza live” appeared to have handles fastened to them and lined the encampment barricade extending from the commencement stage to the front of Bridges Auditorium late Thursday afternoon.
The group organizing the student protest against Israel’s offensive in Gaza, Pomona Divestment from Apartheid, added on to the barricades around the encampment, using chicken wire and wooden pallets as a makeshift inner wall.
Students were hard at work Thursday afternoon hammering away at the additional security measures as they wrapped up Day 4 at the encampment, which they established Monday morning, about a month after a previous encampment was dismantled by officials and led to the arrest of 20 studentsafter they took over an administration building.
Calls for more barricade materials went out on the group’s social media page as students Thursday hauled in everything from metal bed frames to steel fencing to add to the growing defense line for the encampment.
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment towards Bridges Auditorium with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Graduation is scheduled at the site on Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Pro-Palestinian supporter of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid uses a piece of wood to hammer in a stake as they fortify their extended encampment with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment towards Bridges Auditorium with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A lone security guard stands between Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid as they extend their fortified encampment towards Bridges Auditorium with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment towards Bridges Auditorium with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Graduation is scheduled at the site on Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid have fortified the interior of their encampment at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage towards Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Pro-Palestinian supporter of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid wheels a cart full of cinder blocks as she assists with extending their fortified encampment towards Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment towards Bridges Auditorium with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pomona College staff watch as Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Shields sit at the ready for Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid as they extend their fortified encampment with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pomona College security look on as Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A Pro-Palestinian supporter of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid throws a piece of the planned graduation stage for use in their extend fortified encampment that extends towards the steps of Bridges Auditorium at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid extend their fortified encampment towards Bridges Auditorium with disassembled pieces of the planned graduation stage at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid remain in their since fortified encampment in the planned graduation area at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Graduation is scheduled at the site on Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid carry bed frames toward their since fortified encampment in the planned graduation area at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Graduation is scheduled at the site on Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid remain in their since fortified encampment in the planned graduation area at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Graduation is scheduled at the site on Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Pro-Palestinian supporters of the Pomona Divest From Apartheid remain in their since fortified encampment in the planned graduation area at Pomona College in Claremont on Thursday, May 9, 2024. Graduation is scheduled at the site on Sunday. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Anwar Mohamed, a Pomona College junior and representative for PDfA, said the group is prepared to stay as long as it takes for the college to cut financial ties with Israel or companies that support its operations in Gaza.
“Students are here for however long is necessary and will call for divestment at every possible opportunity,” Mohamed said. “Whatever the school may throw at us we will still be shouting ‘divestment now, full disclosure and condemn the apartheid regime.’”
Also Thursday, two civil rights groups announced they filed federal complaints against Pomona College in Claremont and Occidental College in Los Angeles for permitting “severe discrimination and harassment of Jewish students.”
Students questioned at the encampment Thursday did not respond to the complaint but reiterated their support for Palestinians. The encampment is part of a nationwide student movement in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza after Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7.
According to Mohamed, a fire official visited the Pomona College encampment Thursday, took pictures and left without explaining their actions.
Meanwhile, Pomona College appeared to have hired additional security Thursday, with guards stationed a few yards away from the encampment.
Protesters said Thursday the guards had only observed students. There were no signs midday Thursday the guards were denying people entrance to the encampment.
Mohamed said college leadership has not made any recent attemptsto communicate directly with the protesters beyond sending an email earlier in the month about safety concerns.
According to Mohamed, the college cut power not only to the string lights hung for the commencement area but also to the pathway lights on the surrounding walkways to Marston Quad.
“Students are continuing to shut down business as usual until there is a response from the university,” Mohamed said. “If you divest, we leave. We are here for a specific goal.”
Thursday afternoon, Pomona College officials issued a statement about commencement but did not elaborate on the encampment or the student group’s demands.
“We are committed to holding commencement to honor the Class of 2024, with their loved ones, and preparations are continuing,” the statement reads.
Any updates on commencement, the statement notes, will be shared at www.pomona.edu/commencement.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
