Gov. Shapiro, Pitt chancellor give vastly different takes on pro-Palestinian encampment than protest's leaders

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office late Wednesday called it “unfortunate” that a 30-hour pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Pittsburgh “devolved into documented violence, vandalism, and antisemitic rhetoric.”

The statement from Shapiro press secretary Manuel Bonder came hours after Pitt Divest from Apartheid, the group that organized the encampment, offered a far different assessment during a news conference at Flagstaff Hill that was posted on Instagram.

Speakers claimed that state police, at the behest of Pitt Chancellor Joan Gabel, were poised to forcibly clear what had been a peaceful encampment early Tuesday, leaving protesters little choice but to leave the Cathedral of Learning lawn.

They said Gabel and Pitt leadership refused to meet with students and other protesters and embraced what the group called brutal police tactics that left some bloodied in scuffles outside the iconic 42-story classroom tower.

Neither the governor’s office nor Pitt directly addressed whether the university or its chancellor asked for state police intervention. But the governor called the group’s assertions false and inflammatory.

“Pennsylvania State Police was in close contact with city, university, and county law enforcement monitoring the situation and standing ready to assist if requested by local authorities — as is standard practice,” it read.

“Here in Pennsylvania, we stand against hate — and the Shapiro Administration will not tolerate the proliferation of antisemitism or hate in any form. It is unfortunate that this encampment devolved into documented violence, vandalism, and antisemitic rhetoric — but we believe its quick ending was the appropriate outcome.”

As have protesters on other campuses nationally this spring, those at Pitt decried civilian deaths in Gaza, calling it Israeli genocide. They demand that Pitt divest from holdings and institutions in Israel that support Israel’s war against Hamas.

Gabel, in a message to campus Monday, called into question exactly who the protest leaders were. She said “self-proclaimed” leaders who emerged demanding to meet with Pitt leadership were not, in fact, students or otherwise affiliated with the university.

At Wednesday’s news conference, speakers wearing masks challenged Pitt to back up that assertion. The attendees included some of the same community representatives who went to Pitt on Monday to express support for the encampment.

Karim Alshurafa, who described himself informally as a spokesperson for Palestinians in Pittsburgh, part of the Pittsburgh Palestine Coalition, said Pitt has chosen an incorrect path.

“The violent response from the university will not be forgotten. We ask the chancellor to reconsider the way she is handling the situation,” he said.” Suppressing the voices of her students can only lead to worse actions and potentially people getting hurt.”

Others offered accounts from anonymous protesters describing injuries they say they sustained in scuffles with Pitt police outside the building. On Monday, some of the same speakers stood outside the Cathedral and said Gabel ought to meet with protesters.

Instead, Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey joined Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato in conversations that lead to protesters decision to peacefully leave the encampment early Tuesday

The crowd at one point Monday evening surged above 300. Toppled railings left on the lawn were evidence of the confrontations outside the building.

Organizers denied there was any vandalism by the group.

To that, Pitt spokesman Jared Stonesifer responded:

“The exterior of the Frick Fine Arts Building was defaced with graffiti and a weapon was thrown through a window. A total of four windows were broken at the building and graffiti was also observed on a University sign at the intersection of Fifth and Bellefield avenues adjacent to the Cathedral of Learning lawn.”

Gabel said in her campuswide message that Pitt is more committed than ever to promoting free expression.

“However, we have no illusions that the efforts of this group last night are directed toward free expression. They are markedly different from the largely peaceful protest in Schenley Plaza in April.”

Supporters of the encampment had little sympathy for leadership of a taxpayer-supported university that chose not to meet directly with students and others.

Mizanoor Biswas, a member of the Islamic Center whose son graduated from Pitt, said Monday that Pitt has an obligation to listen to the demonstrators who encamped.

“Whether they agree or disagree doesn’t matter,” Biswas said. “This is what we get as a consumer of this university?”