WASHINGTON (7News) — While the encampment in the George Washington University (GWU) yard remains for a seventh day on Wednesday, right next door is the law school.
Students there have been finishing up exams and classes this week and they said it’s been extremely challenging.
Some students told 7News they’ve been avoiding campus because it’s so disruptive and some in the Jewish community said it’s a safety issue for them as well.
“I haven’t been able to use the library here because it’s disruptive. It seemed to me actually like a protest that was simply against the state of Israel at all existing and really had very little to do with the cease-fire,” said law student, David Naftulin.
Meanwhile, Capitol Hill is now getting involved.
READ MORE | Pro-Palestinian protest stretches into 6th day at GW University amid safety concerns
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer of Kentucky (R-KY) and Education Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) sent a letter to D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith, criticizing the police department for not clearing out the tent city.
The campus has been saturated with campus police who are being assisted by D.C. police.
Some of the student pro-Palestinian protesters are of Jewish Faith including one of the organizers. She said they just want peace.
“We see it absolutely necessary to be out here until divestment. We’ve had Rabbis come in to perform Shabbat service, I’ve been offered kosher for Passover food. We are really trying to make sure everyone’s needs are met,” said Lela Tolajin.
The mayor’s office said in a statement that Bowser did meet with GWU officials behind closed doors, but did not disclose details.
Wednesday night, 7News asked protestors at the GWU encampment about their plan if D.C. police eventually move in to shut down their demonstration.
"They won't move even with threats," said Sara, a GWU graduate, and pro-Palestine protestor.
She believes there's a reason behind D.C. police remaining hands-off.
"The Metropolitan police force, it's not because they care about the students, it's because they care about their image. They know it would look horrible for them to forcefully remove students," Sara said.
Another protestor named Raf said it is unclear what the next move would be.
"Hopefully, we get to stay as long as possible," he said. "The organizers' goal, I believe, is to stay here until the university does what we demand which is disclosure and divestment of Israeli companies and full transparency of where the university's money is going."
READ MORE | Congressional GOP calls for an end to Gaza solidarity protest on GWU, threatens action
Wednesday marked the first day of Jewish American Heritage Month.
"It is particularly challenging to be thinking of this month this year," said Gil Preuss, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
7News asked for his thoughts on the GWU protest, the violence at other sites across the country, and the prospect of a physical end to the encampment in Foggy Bottom.
"I'm a firm believer in free speech," Preuss said.
"Once speech turns to violence, once speech turns to suppression or intimidation or antisemitism or, really, the attacking of another population then we do expect the authorities, whose job it is to maintain control of our public spaces, to step in," he added.
Preuss said Jewish students and members of the community planned to hold a rally near the encampment Thursday morning.
Preuss said the rally is to show Jewish pride and that they will not be intimidated or silenced.
So far a handful of students have been suspended but no arrests have been made.
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