Cal Poly Humboldt’s University Police Department is wrapping up its criminal investigation into the week-long occupation of Siemens Hall by pro-Palestine demonstrators and associated vandalism, and expects to turn the case over to prosecutors tomorrow, a university spokesperson tells the Journal.

At least 33 people were arrested in association with the demonstrations on campus that began April 22 and prompted administrators to shutter the campus, threatening students, faculty and staff who violated the “hard closure” order with citation or arrest. While those arrested were booked into jail on suspicion of trespassing, resisting arrest and unlawful assembly, all have since been released from custody and Humboldt County District Attorney Stacey Eads tells the Journal no charging decisions have yet been made, as she’s still awaiting investigative reports. Cal Poly Humboldt spokesperson Aileen Yoo says those will mostly likely be turned over to Eads’ office tomorrow.

At its May 7 meeting, the Cal Poly Humboldt University Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass a resolution calling on Eads not to prosecute the students and professor arrested during the protests.

The Cal Poly Humboldt Chapter of the California Faculty Association has issued a blistering statement condemning the police clearing of Arcata campus last night that led to more than two dozen arrests, calling it "another dangerous escalation," while North Coast state legislators released a joint statement calling for unity and healing in the wake of the protests.

The faculty association, which had already passed a vote no confidence in CPH President Tom Jackson Jr. stemming from his handling of the protests that occupied a portion of campus for a week, strongly condemn the use of law enforcement to clear the occupied area of campus.

"Over the course of the last week, student protesters have continued to ask for negotiations with CPH administration, in order to have a peaceful resolution to the protest," the association press release states. "These are the actions of conscientious individuals working to end a genocide, not the actions of criminals as President Jackson and Sheriff Honsal repeatedly called the student-protestors. University communications describe this morning’s law enforcement action as 'necessary to restore order and to address the lawlessness and dangerous conditions that had developed,' though, the only danger was that imposed by the threat of police action. The statement further minimized the students’ brave actions to bring light to ongoing genocide by calling the sit-in a criminal activity and not free-expression or protest."

The association press release demands that law enforcement release all students and faculty arrested last night, that administration immediately reinstate students suspended for participating in protests and impose no academic sanctions, that barriers to campus be immediately removed and campus reopened/ that Jackson release a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire "taking note of College of the Redwoods President Keith Flamer's statement to President Biden, and that administrators who negotiated with students and led them to "believe there would be meaningful action on their conscientious demands" be held accountable.

North Coast state Sen. Mike McGuire and Assemblymember Jim Wood, meanwhile, released a joint statement noting "this has been an extremely challenging week in Humboldt"

"Protesting peacefully in America is a fundamental, Constitutional right — it's what our nation is about and, let's be candid, protesting is part of the fabric of the North Coast," he said. "That said, there is a clear line and it starts and stops with destruction of school property, vandalism and antisemitic hate speech."

The lawmakers went on to note that this morning's enforcement action resulted in no reported injuries and the "situation ended peacefully." Damage estimates on campus, they say, land at more than $1 million.

"Let's be clear — it's going to take time to heal," they say. "Trust is earned, and it is going to take all sides coming together to have the difficult conversations needed to move forward. Cal Poly Humboldt must be a campus where all faiths and students of all backgrounds feel safe, respected, and included. This has not been the case for Humboldt's Jewish students and others over the past week.

“As protests continue in other parts of the state and nation, it’s important to remember that reasonable ideas don't have to be in conflict — we can call for hostages to be immediately released and mourn every single one of the thousands of innocent lives lost; we can condemn violent actions and call for peace in the region. We’re stronger as a community when we learn from our differences and where we’ve been, and move forward together.”

Read the full statements from the faculty association and two lawmakers copied below.

The Cal Poly Humboldt campus is closed today, as dozens of protesters continue to occupy Siemens Hall, having barricaded its entrances, while calling on the university to divest from entities they say fuel Israel’s ongoing war on Hamas in Gaza.

“The message from inside is that, first of all, they feel the university is complicit because of the campus’ investments with weapons companies and Israeli companies,” said Ryan Connelly, a junior biology major who identified himself as a spokesperson for those occupying the building. “Their conditions for release of the building: Divest, and then we’ll talk.”