Last day in the 'Purdue Liberation Zone'

At 5 p.m. Monday, protesters marched to the West Lafayette City Council and permanently left behind the “Purdue Liberation Zone."

On their 12th day of occupying Memorial Mall, organizers made the decision to take down all signs, tents and tables that marked the spot where they have stayed for the past two weeks.

The decision to tear down the encampment came from a multitude of factors, according to organizers: fear of administration retaliation, safety concerns and the incoming city council meeting.

“The city council meeting … (was) an opportunity to announce what we’ve been doing and wrapping up, and there's also university events on the lawn and the organizations can’t really risk anything more with the Purdue administration,” said Christin Preuss, a Purdue senior and representative of the "Purdue Liberation Zone."

Though the protest was coming to an end, Preuss felt that the encampment was a success even though Purdue hasn't met any of their demands.

“The push for divestment has been happening long before the encampment and will continue afterwards,” Preuss said. “I don’t think we take it as a failure that the university hasn’t immediately complied with all our demands.”

On SJP's and the Young Democratic Socialists of America Chapter at Purdue University’s Instagram pages, they listed six demands, including for Purdue to “sever allies to Technion - Israel Institute of Technology,” “divest from companies and institutions that profit from Israeli Apartheid,” and “build the SWANA Cultural Center.”

“The system of oppression has pushed back against us,” said Natalie Nasser, also a Purdue senior and member of Students for Justice in Palestine. “Administrations are attempting to push back against us through suspensions and arrests, however, truth will prevail.”

Purdue University has neither arrested or suspended any protesters during the lifetime of the “Liberation Zone,” but four organizers of the “Liberation Zone” and the YDSA are facing charges from the Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities, according to previous Exponent reporting.

The scene at Memorial Mall has been a stark contrast to others seen around the country, but Preuss says it’s “not helpful” to compare Purdue’s response to other universities.

“On the practical level, even if we wanted people to show up in the thousands, it’s not possible like in New York,” Preuss said. “I think it’s been really important to remind each other that we aren’t out here to compare to other universities, we’re out here to do what we can at Purdue University.”

As Preuss and Nasser finished their public statement, the bell tower chimed to a campus now mostly dominated by seniors soon to receive their diplomas.

“We will win. Now and forever, free Palestine,” Preuss said.