Student Government Board released a statement on Sunday 鈥渞egarding the Pitt Gaza solidarity encampment,鈥 in which the board offered its support for student advocacy on campus and expressed solidarity with the protest taking place.聽
鈥淲e condemn University investment into genocide and any association with entities furthering Israel鈥檚 endless abuse and murder of Palestinians,鈥 SGB said in the statement posted on Instagram. 鈥淲e call on the University of Pittsburgh to listen to encampment student organizers, divest from Israel and aid Palestinians.鈥
The sit-in protest, which began on Tuesday, involved advocating for Pitt to 鈥渄ivest from any entity associated with the Israel apartheid regime.鈥 On Sunday, the protestors hosted a rally in front of the Cathedral of Learning. Two protestors were arrested and later released.聽
SGB鈥檚 statement reiterated the protestors鈥 demands for divestment and public acknowledgment of genocide perpetrated by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. The statement also demanded that the University respect the protestors and their encampment.聽
鈥淲e vehemently denounce any action to forcibly remove members of the encampment,鈥 the statement read. 鈥淲e encourage the right to protest on campus for any and all student groups.鈥