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CLAREMONT (CNS) - With a pro-Palestinian protest continuing on what was supposed to be the main stage for commencement ceremonies, Pomona College Friday shifted the location of most of the graduation events that are planned throughout the weekend.
The main commencement ceremony had been scheduled for Sunday at the Claremont campus, but it will now be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Shrine Auditorium.
"We are deeply grateful for your patience in this extraordinary situation and we look forward to honoring our graduates on Sunday," according to a message on the college's website. "We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience of these changes made to ensure that the Class of 2024 can graduate with their loved ones in attendance. Additional safety measures will be in place and transportation to the venue will be provided for graduates."
A Baccalaureate Service that had been scheduled for Friday at the campus was moved to Scripps College and will be held at 3:30 p.m.
Individual college department graduations will be held throughout the day on Saturday at various locations on the Pomona College campus, in varying buildings, quads, courtyards or auditoriums. Food trucks will be located across the campus from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, with a Glee Club concert and reception planned at 8 p.m. at the Bridges Hall of Music and a Senior Art Exhibit at the Studio Art Hall.
The events all avoid the previously erected graduation stage and reception area, which was occupied on Sunday by dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters who have remained encamped there.
Large banners reading "The people's campus for Palestine" and the Palestinian flag were seen Thursday still hanging from the commencement stage. Protesters have vowed to remain in place and block graduation activities unless the college commits to divestment from Israeli-tied companies and weapons manufacturers.
"Students are prepared to defend the encampment until their demands are met, and call upon the college to heed the overwhelming support for divestment in their community," according to a statement from an organizing group known as Pomona Divest from Apartheid.
Pomona College officials issued a statement Monday in response to the encampment saying, "Our students, faculty, staff and alumni hold a range of viewpoints. Throughout the year, college leaders have offered to meet with student protesters and will continue to do so. We will promote safety for all members of our community and pursue our educational mission, considering the full range of viewpoints."
On social media Thursday, protest organizers were gearing up for what they suspected might be an attempt to have law enforcement break up the encampment -- similar to raids conducted at USC and UCLA. The group issued public calls for donations of materials such as zip ties and cable ties, chicken wire, discarded furniture, bright flashlights, lanterns and batteries, ice and water.
The organizers also said they have refused to meet with college officials about their demands until they agree to "preconditions," including disclosure of the college's direct investments and full amnesty for negotiators and other protesters.
According to protesters, 19 students were arrested in early April while taking part in a sit-in at the university president's office.
In a statement released after that action in early April, Pomona College President G. Gabrielle Starr said some activists on the campus had refused to identify themselves and "proceeded to verbally harass staff, even using a sickening, anti-Black racial slur in addressing an administrator." Starr said an occupation that was established on the campus violated policies, but "as we have expressed in the past, we work with students who are exercising their right to protest unless that protest impedes on the rights of others. In addition, we require all individuals on campus to identify themselves upon request by campus administrators or Campus Safety. This is imperative for the safety of our community, especially when these individuals are masked."
In announcing their latest protest action on Monday, organizers urged Starr not to engage in what they call "unrelenting repression."
"In April, Starr called in 30+ riot police to arrest 20 students, 19 of whom were staging a sit-in at Alexander Hall to protest the college's forceful removal of a mock apartheid wall from Marston Quad," according to the group. "Students are urging the college not to repeat their mistakes. Gabi Starr, do not opt for violence again. Listen to your community. The choice is yours."