The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/author/mingdemers/)
The Sun sat down with Momodou Taal, an international graduate student from the United Kingdom who could be forced to leave the country after the University suspended him for taking part in a pro-Palestinian protest last week.
“Once you start working here and you’ve got a family, you’re never going to see them,” a striking worker told The Sun.
Protesters from The Coalition for Mutual Liberation marched from Ho Plaza into Klarman Hall on Monday afternoon, chanting “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” and “From the sea to the river, Palestine will live forever.”
While Monday’s protest was centered around Palestine, it also touched on the ongoing labor dispute between United Auto Workers Local 2300 — the union representing University food service, custodial, maintenance and other workers — and the University.
Cornell workers are on strike after failing to reach a negotiation for a new contract with the University. Follow The Sun for updates.
The movement pushing for Cornell to divest from companies engaging in “morally reprehensible activities” in Gaza was a central theme of the Spring 2024 semester.
Over the last 120 hours, The Sun has had reporters on the scene of the encampment. Here are some vignettes of what they saw. April 26 | “The People’s Library” (Nina Davis/Sun Photography Editor)
The encampment establishes a “People’s Library” which includes instructions for the safe return of borrowed books to their owners. April 26 | “Liberation” (Cynthia Tseng/Sun Assistant Photography Editor)
Supporters use chalk to write on the walkways surrounding the encampment.
April 27 | “By Night” (Nina Davis/Sun Photography Editor)
Members of the encampment stay through the night.
April 28 | “Rainy Rally” (Ming DeMers/Sun Senior Photographer)Despite the rain, CML hosts another solidarity rally on Sunday, in support of the encampment’s fourth day. April 28 | “Mural” (Ming DeMers/Sun Senior Photographer)A child of a protestor views the encampment mural.
10 a.m., April 25 | “First Look”
The encampment site is set up on the Arts Quad at dawn on April 25. (Ming DeMers/Sun Senior Photographer)
10:41 a.m., April 25 | “Administration Arrives”
Vice President of Student and Campus Life Ryan Lombardi and Dean of Students Marla Love arrive on the Arts Quad and express disapproval over the nature of the encampment. (Ming DeMers/Sun Senior Photographer)
11:41 a.m., April 25 | “Onlookers”
Cornell University Police Officers watch nearby as protestors call for a rally in support of their demands. (Jason Wu/Sun Senior Photographer)
12:02 p.m, April 25 | “Liberation is a Mindset”
Speakers, including Prof. Russell Rickford, history, engage the crowd in a rally during which they explained the protesters’ demands. (Nina Davis/Sun Photography Editor)
12:21 p.m., April 25 | “The People’s Microphone”
Christopher Cowen, executive vice president and chief financial officer, tells organizers that the tents violate the University’s policies.
Undergraduates voted “yes” on the ceasefire and divestment referendum questions by a 2:1 ratio.
Around 200 students staged a die-in in Klarman Hall to mourn the lives of those killed in Gaza and demand the University acknowledge Palestinian suffering.
Cornell Hillel hosted a community gathering to foster unity and pride within the Jewish community following a Cornell student posting antisemitic threats.