New Orleans, LA – Beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 23, pro-Palestinian students at Tulane University quietly entered the library and took seats at nearly every table on the first floor. Almost all students wore keffiyehs and taped signs to their laptops. Some slogans include: “Tulane separates itself from genocide,” “While we learn, Lebanon burns,” and “Our tuition funds genocide.” Every student who wanted to participate received food, coffee, keffiyehs, signs and books about Palestine.

The action, dubbed a “study-in,” drew the attention of Tulane administration, campus police and students committed to the genocide. The library is normally open to the public and required a student ID card for access this week. The police and administration stood around for the entire 24 hours. Several pro-genocide students came to a table, carrying Israeli flags, and tried to talk to students who wanted to study. They also frequently recorded pro-Palestinian students without their consent, often getting very close to their faces. When they reported to the library administration, they replied that there was no policy prohibiting students from making recordings without permission.

Despite attempts at intimidation, pro-Palestinian students maintained the study-in for 24 hours. At times more than 50 students took part. The action was a clear sign of Tulane students’ support for Palestine. The students’ message was clear: “Tulane is keeping its distance from genocide.”

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