UCSF closes library near removed pro-Palestine tent encampment

UCSF closed the library at its Parnassus campus to all visitors Tuesday as protesting students and faculty calling for an immediate cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war continued demonstrating sans tents after they said university police removed the encampment and arrested one demonstrator the night before.

Library security would not confirm to The Examiner whether the Parnassus Kalmanovitz Library was closed due to the demonstrations.

UCSF spokesperson Kristen Bole told The Examiner on Tuesday that while the school does support freedom of expression under the First Amendment, the school also has “a duty to ensure the safety of our UCSF community, including our patients, who require unimpeded access to our hospital and emergency department across the street from the protestors’ encampment.”

The school told The Examiner that officials warned the encampment about fire-safety code violations six times verbally and three times with written copies of the state policies and regulations throughout the day.

Demonstrators told The Examiner on Tuesday that the UCSF Police Department took down the tents and removed their contents at around 5 p.m. Monday. Protesters posted videos on their Instagram page showing officers arriving and removing activists from tents.

Mo, a demonstrator who asked not to be identified by their last name due to privacy concerns, said fire marshals and campus police “consistently harassed” the protesters, who set up their encampment Monday at 8 a.m. She said officers arrested one demonstrator, who has since been released from custody.

The arrest is believed to be the first at a pro-Palestinian protest on a college campus in The City since demonstrations began on the campus of Columbia University last month.

The school told The Examiner that UCSF police made the arrest after the protester — whom officials allege is not affiliated with the school — “refused to comply with police orders to exit a tent.”

The school said campus police removed more tents demonstrators erected Tuesday morning.

“Expressive activities must not jeopardize life safety or create fear, especially among our patients, who entrust us to serve their health care needs,” Bole said. “As a university, UCSF is unique within the UC system because we focus only on delivering health care to patients, pursuing health science research to improve lives, and educating the next generation of health leaders.”

Demonstrators said the school’s administration has yet to address their demands.

“Our goal to be out here is to be able to negotiate with the UCSF chancellor about our demands to divest and delink from institutions associated with Israel, and to demand a cease-fire,” Mo said, echoing the stated aims of protestors at other University of California campuses and institutions around the country where protests are ongoing.

UCSF did not respond to The Examiner’s request for comment prior to publication.

Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, according to the Israeli government, taking around 250 people hostage. There are more than 130 hostages still in custody. Israel has subsequently killed more than 35,000 Palestinians in its military offensive, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

The remaining pro-Palestinian protesters sat on a tarp near the library Monday night until demonstrators from other nearby universities — including some driving from as far as Sacramento, according to the UCSF contingent — brought extra pillows, blankets, sleeping pads and bags in droves.

“They just showed up last night around 11 p.m.,” Mo said Tuesday. “This is all from community.”

The excess supplies will be redistributed back to other encampments, she said.