On May 7, 2024, third-party contracted workers sprayed students participating in a pro-Palestine encampment with paint at Case Western Reserve University.

The students initially established the encampment on April 29 to demand that the administration disclose its investments and divest from companies that profit from Israeli military action. Despite the detention of twenty students by campus police shortly after the protest began (see report), the protest continued for the next two weeks.

On May 7, third-party contracted workers sprayed students with paint in front of the “spirit wall” near the Thwing Center. On May 10th, the students decided to end the encampment citing safety concerns.

SAR is further concerned about an outside group intimidating a group of student protests in an apparent effort to impede the peaceful exercise of their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. Students and members of the public must refrain from violence and harassment, especially on campus, and respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression, and university authorities must take reasonable measures to ensure the safety of students and university personnel. Such actions undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
https://spectrumnews1.com/oh/columbus/news/2024/04/29/ohio-campus-protesters-case-western
https://signalcleveland.org/pro-palestinian-encampment-continues-for-third-day-at-case-western-reserve/
https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/protests/pro-palestine-protestors-case-western-reserve-end-encampment/95-786d6dca-d659-453a-9be3-7d93824e9eae
https://www.ideastream.org/education/2024-05-10/case-western-reserve-university-protesters-end-encampment-say-activism-will-continue
https://signalcleveland.org/persona-non-grata-case-western-reserve-temporarily-bans-some-students-involved-in-pro-palestinian-encampment/
https://case.edu/president/speeches-statements/updates-and-information-campus-protests
https://case.edu/president/speeches-statements/encampment-protest-ends-adjustments-upcoming-events-may-10-2024
https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cwru-to-withhold-degrees-from-some-students-who-participated-in-israel-hamas-war-protest-encampment