According to a statement released on Friday by the university president:
The university is urging all students, staff, and faculty to steer clear of the Wright and Green Streets area in front of the Illini Union until further notice. A demonstration that began earlier in the day at this location has involved some individuals engaging in unlawful behavior. Despite repeated attempts to inform participants of the necessary policies and rules, they have refused to comply.
In the afternoon, university police officers were met with physical resistance when trying to remove encampment structures that violated university policy. Demonstrators used pieces of lumber and other objects to push the officers back, prompting the officers to deescalate the situation to prevent injuries.
This situation has escalated beyond peaceful expression, and those who fail to comply with orders to leave may face consequences, including arrest and immediate interim suspension for students.
Efforts are ongoing to persuade the demonstrators to voluntarily disperse, and we hope they choose to do so.
Despite recent tragic events, the university has worked hard to provide a safe space for all community members to express themselves freely. The community is not to blame for the conflict, and our focus is on ensuring the safety of the campus and community during this challenging time.
We urge everyone to stay away from the affected area to help maintain safety.
In a subsequent statement issued three and a half hours later:
We have successfully reached a peaceful resolution to end the demonstration outside the Illini Union.
The demonstrators have agreed to dismantle their encampment and relocate temporarily to a designated green space west of Gregory Avenue and north of Oregon Street. This compromise aims to prevent physical confrontations and maintain public safety until a scheduled meeting on Monday afternoon.
Activities will be limited to a specified area to minimize disruptions to campus operations, with a wider separation from academic activities on Monday. Participants are expected to comply with the agreement, with immediate action planned if safety risks or law violations arise.
This decision was made after consultation with various parties to ensure the safety and minimal disruption for students, faculty, and staff in the final week of the semester.
Special thanks to Joe Lehman for the information; for more details, refer to this WCIA article (Bradley Zimmerman & Heather Robinson).
