Tuesday’s devastating storm didn’t spare the pro-Gaza encampment on Indiana University’s campus as it tore through Bloomington.
The Dunn Meadow Liberated Zone has weathered tornado-producing storms before, but it hadn’t sustained damage like it saw Tuesday afternoon. Despite that, protesters say they’re committed rebuilding.
Encampment organizer Bryce Greene returned to campus Monday after successfully appealing his no trespass order, one day before the storm.
“We realized that there was going to be a storm coming, and so we tried to take the necessary precautions,” Greene said. “If it was just rain, we would be fine, but the wind knocked a lot of stuff over. And so now the progress of the process of rebuilding begins.”
The protesters took some equipment such as solar panels offsite beforehand, but wind destroyed several chairs and tents. Others, like the kitchen tent, were blown like sails across the meadow and into the creek. Greene said several protesters remained nearby the camp during the storm.
“We were pretty clear to our people that we do not want anyone on the ground. If you’re around camp, go to a porch, get inside, go to the IMU (Indiana Memorial Union). Protect yourself because you're not going to fight the wind,” he said. “It’s best to keep yourself safe. Live to fight another day.”
Fighting another day remains the plan. The encampment has stood for 63 days through severe weather and police raids. Protesters there demand the university make an inventory of its investments and begin cutting financial ties with Israel, which they accuse of committing a genocide in Gaza. Organizers also call for IU to end its research partnership with the Crane Naval Base and remove President Pamela Whitten and Provost Rahul Shrivastav.
Watch: Protesters plan to keep encampment through summer
IU says overnight camping violates its policy governing the use of Dunn Meadow, although a recent investigation by WFIU/WTIU News revealed that no such provision exists on the books.
Greene said organizers are waiting until the next storm passes before they put out a call to volunteers to help rebuild the encampment.
