On April 26, over 200 students and alumni marched into Pomona’s Alumni Dinner to call on the school to divest from weapons manufacturers supplying Israel. The protest took place in Marston Quad, outside Big Bridges Auditorium.
Three alumni gave speeches on stage, addressing Pomona administrators and the dinner attendees. They all commented on Pomona’s student body activism and the arrest of 20 Pomona students at the Alexander Hall sit-in earlier this month:
“The sense of urgency shown by these students is precisely what the moment calls for,” said David Berkinsky PO’19. Amid the speeches, the dinner continued, with some guests stopping to watch while others continued conversations.
“Join us tonight, this weekend, and beyond as we act in solidarity with the 20 arrested students and… the vast majority of the Pomona study body, to tell Pomona to do the right thing,” said aid Katie Duberg PO’10, before urging other alums to join the walk-out.
The protests moved outside Little Bridges but continued on past the end of the dinner.
The following day, around 3 p.m., before Pomona’s Alumni parade, protesters gathered again—though this time in a much smaller crowd. Protestors attempted to blockade Sixth Street to keep alumni from participating in the parade. The two groups met at the intersection of Sixth Street and College Avenue, where protestors drove the paraders away after some time.
Similar protests occurred on the 27th at Pitzer and Harvey Mudd College.
At Pitzer, protestors planted themselves at Pitzer’s “Taste of Pitzer” music and food event – where they called on Pitzer to divest. Alumni stood by as students chanted on stage.
At Harvey Mudd, student and alumni protestors from Mudders Against Murder interrupted President Harriet Nembhard’s speech to alums.