Protesters walked from Dunn Meadow to the Monroe County Courthouse.
(Aubrey Wright, WFIU/WTIU)
Protesters claimed they were hit by a Bloomington community service vehicle during a march through town.
About 50 protesters marched through campus and downtown Bloomington Tuesday afternoon with the Indiana University Divestment Coalition.
Bryce Greene, a PhD student and spokesperson, said the march comes after Israel took control of the Rafah crossing near the Egyptian border. Israel warned citizens in Rafah — a city with tens of thousands of refugees — of the attack on Monday amid back-and-forth ceasefire talks, NPR reported.
Protesters drummed on pots, pans, bells and buckets to “make noise for Rafah.” Some carried signs and Palestinian flags. Students, faculty and children were present in the short march.
"We’re calling this rally to bring that to people’s attention,” Greene said. “We called it to draw the link between what’s going on in Gaza and what’s happening here at Indiana University.”
Greene said he and other protesters were hit by a Bloomington Police Department Community Service Specialist vehicle near a crosswalk at the Monroe County Courthouse.
A video of the incident shows Greene standing in a crosswalk as the protesters march past. Greene stood directly in front of a Bloomington Police Department Community Specialist car, which slowly lurched forward. Protesters shouted as they continued marching.
Greene said the person in the car was “eager to get through” the line of protesters but did not turn on its police lights or say there was an emergency.
Greene said he was pushed several feet back after the driver continued to push forward. The group did not report any injuries.
“All of this of course was covered in video and multiple eyewitnesses,” Greene said. “What it appears is that this person was simply impatient, unsympathetic to our cause and felt that they were able to threaten and inflict some sort of physical violence on the protesters.”
Bloomington Police will investigate the incident and seek additional footage and witnesses, a press release said. The investigation will be reviewed by the City of Bloomington Legal Department and the Monroe County Prosecutor’s Office at the direction of Mayor Kerry Thomson.
"Investigators immediately began checking the area for surveillance camera footage that may have captured the event," the release said. "Further, investigators later made contact with individuals involved in the protest that claimed to have been struck by the CSS vehicle. These individuals provided cellphone footage of the event."
The protesters have camped in IU’s Dunn Meadow since April 25, and they plan to stay until their demands are met. Fifty-seven protesters have been arrested. They want IU to divest from partnerships, affiliations and programs with Israel and end its relationship with NSWC Crane.
They’re demanding that President Pamela Whitten, Provost Rahul Shrivastav and Vice Provost Carrie Docherty resign. The three leaders faced no confidence votes in April from faculty after concerns over academic freedom, shared governance and censorship.
Greene said Israel’s assault on Rafah is a “grave new escalation” of the conflict, because refugees have sought safety in the city since October.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement the country will continue in Rafah to apply pressure on Hamas to release hostages and “achieve the other objectives of the war,” NPR reported.
Greene said President Joe Biden’s Administration has continued to support Israel economically, politically and militarily.
The group chanted throughout their march “Free, free Palestine” and slogans condemning Whitten, Shrivastav and Docherty.
As the group reached their encampment at the end of the march, Greene delivered a speech reiterating the IU Divestment Coalition’s demands.
Through a megaphone, Greene said Americans have a responsibility to speak up and understand their role in heir government and its relationship with Israel.
“The only time anything good has ever happened in the world is when people stand up and fight back, is when ordinary people, people’s whose names you will never know stand up and say ‘Hell no,’” Greene said.
The IU administration has not responded to multiple requests for comment.
This story was updated on May 5 at 11:15 a.m. to include comments from the Bloomington Police Department.
Aubrey is our higher education reporter and a Report For America corps member. Contact her ataubmwrig@iu.eduor follow her on X@aubreymwright.
