'The Shit Show' 

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10:18 p.m. — "Everyone knows," Stephens tells Cress. "So, whenever you're ready." Cress responds that he's waiting on word from inside on "how that conversation goes." "Assuming it goes the way it's going to go, I'll have a quick conversation with bullhorn girl," Cress says, referring to a woman in the crowd who's been leading chants with a megaphone. Stephens tells Cress that EPD will bring up the rear in the exit line to make sure all officers get out safely. Cress asks if officers want to gather somewhere to debrief after exiting. "I think the better plan, Pete, would probably be to find something in the morning," Stephens responds. "I mean, if someone was getting a shit sandwich thrown at them, then obviously. ... But if we're going to give it up, then just give it up and leave, unless it sets on fire. But I don't see it going there. ... I think you need [the sheriff's office's] leadership here, like decision makers for the future ... we need people to make decisions." Cress then responds that the protesters might occupy the building "for a couple of days."

10:20 p.m. — UPD officer Delmar Tompkins approaches and Cress tells him they're formulating an exit strategy. "Good," Tompkins replies, saying he just spoke with the emergency operations center. "The president, the provost and, um, a couple of faculty members, they're conspiring. I don't know what else to tell you. They were giving conflicting information, they were backchanneling with the protesters. I asked them, 'What are you talking about?' ... And, as soon it sounds, the president told me to stand down, not that he has that authority, but I didn't want to make a scene. I broke aside with Sherie. They're lost. They want to get us all down there. I recommend you or Janelle get down there." Cress then cuts Tompkins off, saying they are just waiting for Johnson to call. "I think we have a plan in place," Cress says. "They're not being honest," Tompkins says. "In what way?" Cress asks. "What I'm saying is, I don't think you're getting good information. So, either get down there and get an ear we trust in there, or let's get out of here ... because there's, there's, there's no supply line coming in. ... Our radios are down. We're, we're too far apart over here." Cress tells Tompkins to "grab a spot on the line," saying that when the dispersal order comes they'll all walk "as a unit" to the library. Reached by the Journal, Tompkins said departmental policy "prohibited" him from commenting.

10:24 p.m. — Cress asks Jackson if there's been any word from Johnson and she says there hasn't. Cress then calls Koczera, who answers and hands the phone to Johnson. "Hey, any update on the conversation inside the building?" Cress asks. "OK. ... Alright. ... Sounds good. ... Sounds good. ... We're ready on our end."

10:25 p.m. — "Alright," Jackson asks, "what are we doing?" Cress responds: "Mark's going to call back. They're still having conversation." Cress is then told the group of protesters inside the western entrance of Siemens Hall has now gone downstairs, apparently talking to someone from administration.

10:29 p.m. — As officers mill about in front of the building, awaiting the order to depart, Cress approaches Stephens, whose department has been overseeing peaceful weekly pro-Palestinian demonstrations in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse for months. "This is liable to have ramifications for you guys," Cress says, signaling that police standing down may embolden future protests. "I mean, nothing we can do about it now." Stephens seems to consider for a moment before responding, "It would have ramifications if we ended up using force, too," he says. "Oh, I know," Cress responds. "I just feel for you."

10:30 p.m. — "So, units disperse is the signal," Cress tells Jackson, explaining that when it's given, officers will line up and leave the quad, regrouping in front of the library, after which they will disperse in groups to return to their cars.

10:33 p.m. — Cress answers Johnson's call, retreating to a quieter spot on the hill southwest of Siemens Hall for the conversation. "Alright, go ahead," he says. He listens quietly for about a minute, then responds, "Sounds like a plan." When he gets off the phone, Jackson informs him that a large crowd has gathered in front of the library. "Did you see the huge crowd?" she asks. "We can't walk past them." They decide to walk down through the art quad in front of the Van Duzen Theater to Laurel Street and disperse from there.

10:37 p.m. — Cress passes the new exit strategy on to a CHP officer, who says he'll spread the word to others.

10:38 p.m. — Cress asks the woman with the megaphone for her assistance. "We're going to take off," he says. "What I need you to do is ask the crowd — we're going to walk that way and down the stairs. We don't want any hassle. ... What I need you to do is ask the group to open a corridor so we can walk out. OK?" She then takes up the megaphone, "Everyone, listen to me," she says, repeating herself a couple of times until the crowd quiets. "They are going to leave. Let them leave. They are going to walk down the stairs to our left. Open a corridor and let them leave." "Don't touch them," someone yells, followed by another yell of, "Keep it peaceful." As the officers begin to file out, the crowd erupts in a loud chant, repeating, "Cops go home!" As the officers walk by, a young man in the crowd offers an exaggerated wave, saying, "Bye-bye!" The officers then file out and return to their cars without incident. Siemens Hall, meanwhile, would remain occupied for another eight days.

Thadeus Greenson (he/him) is the Journal's news editor. Reach him at (707) 442-1400, extension 321, or [email protected].