Fencing installed on May 1 around the perimeter of Polk Place, where the Triangle Gaza Solidarity Encampment was previously located, has been removed as of this morning.
The fencing was present through final exams and the beginning of UNC’s summer session dates, with increased police presence observed around the Quad until after the spring Commencement ceremony, when the majority of students left campus.
In an informational document distributed by UNC on May 3, addressing frequently asked questions, the University said that Polk Place was damaged by protesters, tents and debris. The document also said that protesters engaged in destruction of public property.
"The University put up temporary fencing to preserve the landscape on Polk Place and deter protesters from engaging in dangerous behavior," the document said.
The solidarity encampment at Polk Place began April 26 and continued until April 30, when it was swept by police at around 6 a.m., resulting in 36 demonstrators detained, six of whom were arrested. Detainments and arrests came after protesters received a letter from UNC administration saying that protesters had to remove tents, tables and other items, as well as leave the area. The letter said failure to follow the order could result in arrest, suspension or possible expulsion. Police officers and facilities workers placed barricades around Polk Place, where the solidarity encampment was located, later that morning.
After a scheduled vigil for Palestine that afternoon, demonstrators surrounded and pushed over barricades, removing the U.S. flag and replacing it with the Palestinian flag. Police were led to demonstrators by interim Chancellor Lee Roberts and UNC Police Chief Brian James, forcefully parting demonstrators to surround the Polk Place flag pole. Police used pepper spray multiple times to move demonstrators.
A UNC police officer present at the installation of fencing the following evening said that he could provide no details about why it was being installed.
When The Daily Tar Heel previously asked for comment about fencing around the Quad, senior director of Media Relations Kevin Best referred The DTH to the FAQ document in a May 21 email. Best also said in the email that the fencing was provided by the UNC System Office and that it would be removed at a later date.
Media Relations provided The DTH with no further comment about fencing, other than confirming that it had been removed from the Quad.
