(UPDATED) Tale of two cities: Pro-Palestinian protests in Milwaukee and Madison differ

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Pro-Palestinian protests have erupted on college campuses throughout the nation, and Milwaukee and Madison are no exception. But the protests in Madison and Milwaukee have been very different, according to authorities in both cities.

However there is one similarity: Like the encampment in Madison, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee campus encampment is also in violation of Wisconsin law, according to university officials.

“Encampment violates Chapter 18 of the Wisconsin administrative code, so it is against state law,” said Angelica Duria, spokesperson for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Police told the Wisconsin Law Journal on Saturday.

During Saturday’s interview, Duria said, “UWM police continue to monitor the encampment and have not intervened, but will take action on any imminent public safety concerns or emergencies. ”

According to Duria, the UW-Milwaukee campus protests have been peaceful.

“There have been no incidents on UWM’s campus, no arrests and no injuries,” Duria said.

Although there may not have been physical incidents, other media reports have shown protester’s display of anti-Semitic messages in Milwaukee.

On Sunday, May 12, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone announced protesters have reached an agreement with the university to remove the illegal tents.

“I’m writing to share that UWM leadership has reached an agreement with representatives of the student protesters encamped on the lawn outside of Mitchell Hall. As a result, students have started dismantling the encampment and will finish doing so by Tuesday morning. The agreement also includes assurances that those involved will not disrupt UWM’s upcoming commencement ceremonies,” Mone wrote Sunday.

“I also recognize that many have criticized UWM for not forcing the removal of the camp earlier. Indeed, the most common question asked of us involved when police would be sent in to break up the encampment. Our consistent answer: UWM leadership prioritized the safety of everyone involved, which meant seeking resolution through dialogue with our students. Today, as this agreement goes into effect and the encampment begins to come down, we are thankful there were no significant safety issues and that counterprotests remained peaceful,” Mone added Sunday.

According to a copy of Sunday’s agreement obtained by the Wisconsin Law Journal, UWM is prohibited by law from cutting ties with private companies and organizations that do business in Israel, which includes all the businesses protesters cited in their demands.

The agreement further notes the encampment must begin to come down on Sunday, May 12, and must be completely deconstructed no later than 8 a.m. Tuesday, May 14.

UWM officials agreed to review its study-abroad policies and programs to ensure compliance with their Discriminatory Conduct Policy.

Further, the agreement stipulates that the Water Council (a Milwaukee Consortium of water tech companies) cut ties with two Israeli-government-owned water companies, Mekorot and the Israel Innovation Authority.

Mone is the treasurer of the Water Council’s board of directors, the New York Times reported Monday.

“These companies are accused by international aid organizations, including Amnesty International, of cutting off access to drinking water for thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, exacerbating water scarcity. These are serious concerns that Chancellor Mone addressed with the Water Council president. At the Chancellor’s urging, the Water Council no longer has relationships with these entities, and they have been removed from the global listing on the Water Council’s website,” Mone said.

American Actress and Comedian Sarah Silverman posted to social media that Israel only cut off the water because children hostages were taken by Hamas terrorists.

Previously on May 8, 2024, Mone condemned the illegal encampments.

“We’ve also made it clear that the encampment is unlawful, and that it must end,” Mone said.

“… Such encampments are unlawful under Chapter 18 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code, and why Gov. Tony Evers, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman have all said the encampments must end. The longer the encampment stays, the greater safety concerns grow, be it from a counter protest flashpoint or bad actors deliberately targeting the encampment. This is why we’ve gone to such great lengths to work with protesters to bring an end to the encampment. However, if the encampment doesn’t end soon, UWM will have to take action to ensure that it does,” Mone added.

Pursuant to the agreement, UWM officials called on Israel to release the terrorist hostages.

“… release of Palestinian men, women and children held as hostages in military detention in Israel,” the agreement states.

Praise and criticism

The above remarks received sharp criticism from officials.

Chris Olmstead a GOP Convention employee posted to X, formerly known as Twitter. He notes that his views are not as a Convention employee, but made solely as an individual.

“@UWM calling for Israel to release Hamas terrorists from military prison, and referring to them as *hostages* is CRAZY. @UniversitiesWI and Regents need to get involved at this point. Chancellor Mone is obviously incapable of handling this moment,” Olmstead Tweeted.

The UWM agreement also received praise.

“I am immensely proud and inspired by these student organizers and their work. Within just two weeks, they created a space of learning, healing, advocacy and joy, and used it to win tangible policy change, to draw connections between this issue and other vital work, and to underline that the struggle continues,” said Democrat Rep. Tim Clancy on Monday.

Madison

As previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, Madison’s protests have resulted in nearly three dozen arrests, multiple injuries and hate crime investigations. Madison protesters also drew anti-Semitic words on campus sidewalks and one protester confessed to performing a “Heil Hitler’ salute to a Jewish student.

Also as previously reported by the Wisconsin Law Journal, Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the University of Wisconsin-Madison commencement ceremony Saturday as demonstrators walked through the stadium carrying Palestinian flags. However, UW-Milwaukee officials said nothing of the sort occurred in Milwaukee.

University of Wisconsin-Madison officials released a report May 8 providing specific examples of hate crimes that local law enforcement are presently investigating.

On May 1, 2024, a female student was displaying a pro-Israel sign. The female student reported to police that an unknown man with a knife visibly attached to his waistband approached her on Library Mall, the location of the pro-Palestinian encampments.

The man with the weapon approached her and said, “Jews shouldn’t be on campus.”

Police said on May 7, 2024, at or around 3:50 p.m., a student reported that he was approached by an unknown male on Library Mall who threatened to kill him if he didn’t put away his phone. The victim walked away and reported the suspect followed him for a short time and continued to threaten him verbally.

According to authorities, the man was trying to take a picture or video of the Pro-Palestinian protesters and they objected, despite it being on a public campus space.

Police said on May 8, 2024, at approximately 4:20 a.m., an assault involving the use of a large stick occurred between two individuals on the Library Mall, the site of the pro-Palestinian encampments. As UWPD officers arrived, the fight had stopped and there was no longer a disturbance. UWPD continued monitoring the area for safety.

Caroline Clancy with The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Milwaukee Field Office told the Wisconsin Law Journal Friday that “the FBI is in close contact with state and local law enforcement partners and, as we do in the normal course of business, we will share any information regarding potential threats. We respect the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights and the FBI investigates individuals who violate federal law through violence or other criminal activity.”

Fond du Lac District Attorney Eric Toney, who also served as past-president of the Wisconsin District Attorney’s Association, condemned the anti-Semitic speech during an interview with the Wisconsin Law Journal on Friday.

“Our right to free speech must be protected but actions within protests across the country, and in Wisconsin, have resulted in vile anti-Semitic speech and some criminal activity. Those actions threaten the safety of students and staff on campuses and have no place in our society. I hope our Wisconsin attorney general has acted swiftly to investigate any criminal violations, while also identifying any funding sources connected to illegal activity, such as unlawful hate speech or violence,” Toney said.

This story has been updated.