Pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the Institute of Politics building at the University of Chicago on Friday afternoon, overturning furniture, damaging property and confronting the institute’s director, former Senator Heidi Heitkamp.
She refused their demand that she leave her office, university officials said, adding that she was the only staff member in the building.
In a statement, the protest group on Friday said that it had occupied the building to protest the University of Chicago’s ties to Israel.
Bystander video showed protesters climbing through second-floor windows to leave the building as the crowd below cheered.
After demonstrators were cleared from the building by the police, other protesters remained outside and in yards nearby, chanting, yelling and pounding drums.
Persons:
Heidi Heitkamp
Organizations:
of Politics, University of Chicago, University of
Locations:
Israel