Update, 11:05: Police in riot gear are now facing the protesters, sheriff’s office uniforms.
Update, 11:04 a.m. Four people are now in police detention. CPPD chief of police George Hughes made an announcement declaring the protest an “unlawful gathering,” commanding protesters to “immediately disperse,” or risk arrest or “other police action” which includes “less lethal emissions.”
Update, 10:52 a.m.: Heavy police presence spotted by California and Foothill intersection. Police have now detained two protesters.
Update, 10:42 a.m: About 17 protesters continue to chant and walk up and down the crosswalk at the California Boulevard intersection to campus. A few are sat on the ground while also chanting. Police have removed blockade and cars are now moving through. Police cars are also slowly clearing from around Spanos Stadium.
Update, 10:38 a.m.: University spokesperson Matt Lazier confirmed via email that the Administration and Finance Building (Bldg 1) was “locked after reports of a protest at the California Boulevard entrance to campus.” Lazier wrote that this decision was made “Out of an abundance of caution.”
“Individual offices and area within are using their own discretion as to whether employees should continue to work in the building right now,” Lazier wrote.
Update, 10:21 a.m.: Dean of Students Joy Pederson was seen talking with protesters.
At 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, pro-Palestine protesters gathered along the crosswalk at the California Boulevard entrance to campus, blocking and diverting traffic coming in. Three protesters sat on the crosswalk, connected by the arm with duck-taped tubes, while others walked back and forth, shouting chants like “Free Palestine” and “Not another Nickel not another dime for Israel’s crimes.”
Campus Police arrived on the scene at 7:48 a.m. and directed traffic to turn onto Campus Way. Around eight campus police officers were on site as of 9 a.m., in addition to eight total protesters.
The San Luis Obispo sheriff arrived on scene at 9 a.m.
A statement shared with Mustang News from Cal Poly Abolitionist Action Central Coast/SLO (AACCS) and Students for a Quality Education (SQE) includes calls to action for the campus community in regards to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“Cal Poly is not just complicit in the genocide, it is part of the network of institutions that drives it,” the statement said. “Cal Poly provides the research and labor power needed for the genocide to continue.”
The statement went on: “Cal Poly, a settler institution on stolen land, will always be fatally entangled with white supremacy and settler colonial systems of domination. Cal Poly will always be zionist.”
Signs at the protest included “Free Palestine,” “Defund Genocide,” “Cal Poly Divest From Genocide” and “40,000 Dead.”
Protesters did not respond to Mustang News’ requests for comment.
This is a developing story, Mustang News will update as more information becomes available.
Mustang News reporters Owen Lavine, Krithi Sankar and Amelia Wu contributed to the reporting of this story.