AMHERST— A protest demanding the University of Massachusetts pull out of its direct investments in fossil fuel companies will continue with a new approach Tuesday, following a week-long sit-in and 34 student arrests.
Divest UMass, the student-run group organizing the protest, held a “sit-out” on the grass beside Whitmore Administration Building beginning at noon Tuesday. The group will set up tents and encourage students to call their state and federal legislators to ask them to endorse divestment and support the group’s efforts at UMass.
The “sit-out” comes after a week of protest and negotiation with university officials began Monday, April 11. Divest UMass held a five-day sit-in on the third floor of Whitmore during the day demanding the university divest from the top 200 publicly-traded fossil fuel companies, as determined by Carbon Tracker, a financial think tank that focuses on climate change.
Thirty-four students were arrested April 12 and 13 by the UMass Police Department on charges of trespassing when they refused to leave Whitmore after it closed at 6 p.m. The students arrested received probationary terms in Eastern Hampshire District Court.
Although the sit-in has ended, Divest UMass will continue its fight for fossil fuel divestment until organizers feel their demands have been met, said Divest UMass spokesman Filipe Carvalho.
“We feel the sit-in has served its purpose and created a lot of visibility for us. We don’t have to be in Whitmore to make our voices heard,” Carvalho said Tuesday.
Following days of protest that swelled to over 200 people on the afternoon of April 13, university spokesman Ed Blaguszewski issued a statement in response to protesters on the evening of April 14.
According to the statement, UMass President Martin T. Meehan and board of trustees Chairman Victor Woolridge “agree to advocate for the divestment and prohibition of direct investments by the University’s endowment in fossil fuel companies.” The statement continued, saying the officials “agree to place the subject on the agenda for consideration” at the board of trustees meeting June 15.
Although the statement effectively halted student arrests and prompted all 150 protesters to peacefully vacate Whitmore on the evening of April 14, Divest UMass organizers say the statement does not satisfy their demands.
The group is calling on Meehan and Woolridge to release a statement publicly committing to bring the issue of divestment to a vote at the June 15 trustees meeting.
Moving forward, Carvalho said the “sit-out” protest will continue for the rest of the week with phone banking and information sessions. He expected at least 50 people to attend the protest Tuesday.
After a two-hour tent setup, a Divest UMass organizer was expected to lead an information session on the grass outside Whitmore about the importance of divestment at 2 p.m. A phone bank targeting state and federal legislators was set to take place from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by an hour-long closing assembly.
Divest UMass will target a different group each day through phone banks, including faculty, alumni, and community members, according to Carvalho.
“This week is about creating support and action so it has to happen June 15, and once it’s on the table, it becomes full divestment,” said Carvalho.