UMass for Palestine Legal Defense

UMass For Palestine represents a coalition of students, staff, faculty, librarians, graduate workers, and community members who organize for Palestinian liberation. On May 7, 2024, student, staff, faculty, and community protestors occupied the South Lawn of the UMass Amherst campus, participating in a community-oriented encampment site known as “the Popular University for Gaza.” These demonstrations were derailed after Chancellor Reyes authorized local and state police forces to forcibly shut down the encampment site. Since the initial 134 arrests were made in May, the UMass administration continues to pursue these charges in addition to levying disciplinary sanctions against students. These academic sanctions persist despite several “votes of no confidence” in Chancellor Javier Reyes for his response to the protest from the Student Government Association, Graduate Employee Organization, and Faculty Senate.

We continue to face legal funding needs, especially as two new criminal cases against students have been introduced in recent weeks. We ask our community to aid in the continuing need for legal defense funds. With these funds, we can defend and support those facing ongoing legal processes and continue to organize for a free Palestine.