East Lansing, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – After three days of protesting on MSU campus, the “April 2024 MSU Occupation” left its encampment in the People’s Park.

The group, initiated by Hurriya, is a coalition of more than 20 campus organizations that began last fall. The group stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine according to the groups spokeswoman, Laura Sager.

MORE NEWS: Ferris State Wins Third NCAA National Championship in Four Years

“Our Occupation of MSU’s campus aims to expose Michigan State University’s failure to uphold the international rule of law, respect human rights, and respond to public demands for divestment,” Sager said to Michigan News Source in an email.

MSU Occupation Movement Leaders issue “Victory Statement.”

Undergraduate student leader Jesse Estrada-White, of the MSU Hurriya Coalition shared an update about the camp on Sunday.

“We, the member organizations of the MSU Hurriya Coalition, are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support we have received from campus and community individuals, organizations, and businesses,” Estrada-White said in a statement. “We were heartened by the hundreds of messages from people who were with us in spirit but unable to join the encampment.”

While the university issued a permit to camp on the campus Sunday, Estrada-White shared a different reason for the group’s departure.

“Hurriya members have collectively decided to close the encampment down late last night, Saturday, April 27,” Estrada-White said in a statement. “This is only a short pause, however, not an end of our Movement.”

MSU Occupation Movement Shares Next Steps.

The group shared that the action sent a message “as a short-term, strategic strike” and demonstrated growing support.

MORE NEWS: Gov. Whitmer Signs Lame Duck Legislation into Law

“We have demonstrated that students, faculty, staff, and community are willing to stand in solidarity with Palestine and push this university to change,” the group said in a statement “We have made the Board’s complicity in genocide an issue they can no longer ignore.”

The group also weighed in on its disappointment in the university’s stance on the situation.

“We are not proud of MSU. For years it has failed students, faculty, and the Michigan community,” the group said in a statement. “Now it is failing the entire world by investing in the death and destruction at the bloody hands of the US/Israel war machine. They may have “allowed” our occupation to continue, but at every point have failed to come to the table to negotiate with us on our demands.”

The group compared its solidarity with a “brick in the growing wall of resistance.”

“We will return and we ask you to continue supporting the call for divestment and solidarity with the Palestinian people,” the group said.

On Sunday, the group traveled to the University of Michigan to join some of the wolverines, whose encampment began a week ago, in their effort to protest.

MSU Shares it will not change its position on divestment.

Recently appointed MSU President, Kevin Guskiewicz, visited the encampment site and spoke with students.

“The university respects and upholds the right to protest and freedom of speech,” he said in a statement. “At the same time, certain regulations must be adhered to ensure the safety and proper functioning of our campus.”

MSU President Guskiewicz also shared that the university had decided not to divest.

“As we have discussed with various groups over the past several months, and I expressed to the protesters today, MSU has been steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the university’s investment portfolio from political influence,” he said in a statement to the community. “We have no direct investments in gun manufacturers, and we do not have direct or indirect investments in the three publicly traded civilian firearms manufacturers. Further, the university does not own an Israeli-issued security bond. Given this context, and as the Board has previously indicated, the university will not be making any divestment changes.”

The investment decisions continue to focus on “strong financial stewardship that allows us to advance our educational and outreach mission,” according to MSU President Guskiewicz.