Bowdoin occupation ends with big rally

Once again supporters of the student occupation came from around the state

Full moon just overhead

Students waiting and cheering for the last occupiers to leave the student union

I returned to Bowdoin College (Brunswick, Maine) again yesterday for three hours as things appeared to be coming to a dramatic ending. Students had been occupying the student union for five days and the administration was moving to suspend and even threatened arrests if they did not halt their efforts to get the college administration to divest from support for zionist genocide in Palestine.

Right before 6:00 pm on Monday, the final Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) team came out of the building to huge cheers by the biggest crowd of students and supporters I'd seen since the occupation began.

The Bowdoin Orient student newspaper reported:

Protesters were notified late Sunday night that they would receive temporary suspensions if they did not clear the space by 8:30 a.m. Monday. Those who remained in the encampment past this deadline received a letter from Senior Vice President and Dean for Student Affairs Jim Hoppe informing them that they had been temporarily suspended and that remaining past 5 p.m. would result in “further disciplinary action.”

“We are all incredibly disappointed that this action was not able to be ended with the meeting of the Bowdoin Solidarity Referendum,” lead encampment organizer Olivia Kenney told protesters.

“We want to acknowledge that the space that we have opened up on this campus for speech on Palestine … has broken down doors in the context of our campus community,” Kenney said. “This is not the end.”

In the days since the start of this inspiring campaign nearly 1,000 letters had been sent by SJP supporters to the Bowdoin administration via an online page created to facilitate the process.

My wife Mary Beth Sullivan ended her letter to Bowdoin saying, "Show the leadership this country needs to engage in repair rather than punishment".

I saw on Instagram one woman wrote that she is a regular donor to Bowdoin and had called the college and told them if you suspend or arrest anyone then I will not send any more money.

We have a friend in Malaysia who recently graduated from Bowdoin and was a leading activist at the college during her time there. I had been sending her info about the campaign and she wrote back this morning saying:

"Following closely on social media. Superb activism and organising. One of my former favourite professors was called to do some negotiating. The students agreed to the proposed terms, but the college didn't."

Just prior to the final occupiers coming out of the student union I heard one student say, 'I saw one college administrator visibly trembling'. 

There can be no doubt that Bowdoin was under huge pressure from the students, their parents, supporters around the country and internationally. In addition I am certain that zionist donors to Bowdoin were also exerting intense heat on the administration as well.

In one of the most inspiring moments last night one speaker led the assembled in a call and response that resounded with such emotion that passer-byes were stopping and listening. The speaker reminded everyone that 'we are not done' and there was 'more to come'. He also told the crowd that once you graduate and get a job 'don't sell out' to the system. We must 'keep fighting for the people'. Really the perfect message in that moment.

It was indeed a great joy for me to have been able to stand in support of the occupation. (I only live one mile from the campus.)  We've lived in this area since 2003 and have rarely seen much political activity at Bowdoin which is sort of a junior Ivy League college. 

My hope is that the students will find other ways to keep the pressure on Bowdoin to divest and to involve the public in this growing debate.

Speaking to Fox News on Sunday, Trump not only doubled down on his earlier announcement to expel all Palestinians from Gaza and build a beach resort but also asserted that Palestinians who leave Gaza will have no right to return. 

As Israel continues to violate the ceasefire in Gaza and Lebanon, Trump also appears to be giving Netanyahu the green light to 'finish off Gaza'.

This sad and heartbreaking situation is far from over. I hope Bowdoin students and the general public will stay on the case.

See the Portland Press Herald story here

Bruce