
Katherine Weaver
Protesters lock Cobb Gate.
The Chicago Maroon reported live from UChicago United for Palestine’s (UCUP) October 11 rally, which ended with the arrest of three protesters.
Protesters locked Cobb Gate, which stands at the entrance of the main quad, before proceeding north toward Ratner Athletics Center, where several police officers used pepper spray and batons on protesters. The rally, which began at 2:30 p.m., morphed into a brawl involving at least 200 University- and community-affiliated protesters, 20 University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) officers, and more than 30 Chicago Police Department (CPD) officers.
Over the course of the afternoon, protesters sprayed graffiti on the Nuclear Energy Statue and its surrounding area, Eckhardt Research Center, Regenstein Library, and Max Palevsky Residential Commons. Facilities Services removed most of the graffiti Friday evening, though graffiti remained on the Nuclear Energy sculpture and the Regenstein as of noon on Saturday, October 12.
Full coverage of the day’s events is available here.
1:30 p.m., October 12
Facilities Services has removed most of the graffiti from yesterday’s protest. “Free Gaza” remains written on the Fermi memorial and the outside of Regenstein Library behind the memorial.
6:12 p.m.
The University released a statement to the Maroon addressing details from the day’s protests.
“At approximately 3:20 p.m. Friday, a group of protesters who had marched from a rally on campus used locks to block access to campus through a gate on 57th Street, and began spray-painting buildings and public art near the corner of Ellis Avenue and 57th Street. Officers from the University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) responded to the scene. Protesters instigated confrontations with police by physically surrounding a police car, further vandalizing and damaging property, blocking the public road, and striking police officers who responded. UCPD arrested two individuals – one for criminal damage and one for battery to a police officer. The Chicago Police Department arrested one individual for battery to a police officer.
“The University of Chicago is fundamentally committed to upholding the rights of protesters to express their views on any issue. At the same time, University policies make it clear that protests cannot jeopardize public safety, disrupt the University’s operations, or involve the destruction of property.”
5 p.m.
Facility Services is removing the graffiti from various sites across campus with a pressure washer.

4:00 p.m.
Cobb Gate has been unlocked.
3:58 p.m.
During the protest, graffiti reading “free Gaza,” “hands off Lebanon,” and “fuck the bombs” was written on the Fermi memorial outside of Mansueto Library.
3:54 p.m.
The police and protesters have completely dispersed from the site of the protest.
3:51 p.m.
The Maroon has confirmed that UChicago Police Sergeant Grays Sr. sprayed at least one protester and a Chicago Police Department captain with pepper spray during the protest.
3:45 p.m.
The protesters are dispersing under advice to stay masked “until you’re farther away.”
3:43 p.m.
The protesters have congregated outside of the SMART Museum. More CPD officers have arrived.
3:40 p.m.
Protesters have told the Maroon that several police officers have pepper sprayed into the crowd. One protester kicked a police officer.
3:37 p.m.
Police used batons on protesters and the Maroon has reports of pepper spray. At least three arrests have been made, including one made after a brief chase.
3:35 p.m.
UCPD officers have entered the protest wearing riot gear.
3:34 p.m.
Protesters are chanting “Let him go.” The Maroon cannot confirm whether an arrest is being made.
A protester hit a UCPD patrol car’s side mirror with a rock.

3 p.m.
At approximately 3 p.m., the protest proceeded through Cobb Gate on the north end of the central quad. Once all of the protesters were through, the protesters pushed the gate closed and affixed a bike lock to keep the gate shut.
Protesters chanted “Pigs go home” to police officers and “Intifada, intifada, long live the intifada.”
2:45 p.m.
At 2:45 p.m. on Friday, October 11, UChicago United for Palestine hosted a walkout and accompanying protest on the main quad. There were approximately 80 protesters and eight UCPD officers at the beginning of the rally.
Correction, October 11, 2024, 6:40 p.m.: Previous versions of this article incorrectly referred to Cobb Gate, the exterior gate to the main quad on 57th Street, as Hull Gate. Hull Gate is the interior gate closer to the main quad.
This is a developing story. This article will continue to be updated with more information as the story progresses.