Johns Hopkins encampment ends after protesters, university come to agreement

The Johns Hopkins University and protesters occupying a pro-Palestinian encampment on the Homewood campus have reached an agreement to end the demonstration immediately.

In exchange for the encampment being dismantled and not restarted, Hopkins will conduct a “timely review of protestors’ key question of divestment,” according to the Baltimore university in a Sunday news release.

Hopkins Justice Collective, the group leading protests, said in its own Sunday news release that Hopkins committed to accelerating its Public Interest Investment Advisory Committee process, a pre-existing process within the university for divestment, by five months. The Board of Trustees will meet to discuss the PIIAC proposal for divestment in March or June 2025.

The university also agreed to end student conduct proceedings related to the encampment, provided there aren’t further campus disruptions and excluding any conduct proceedings related to violence, property damage, intimidation and threats, Hopkins’ release says. However, those who have been identified could have their participation used against them in future disciplinary hearings for any future violations of the student conduct code, according to HJC’s release.

Protesters who aren’t affiliated with the university must vacate campus, Hopkins said.

The collective called the multi-day negotiations “in no way a total victory” but “a step towards Johns Hopkins’ commitment to divest from the settler colonial state of Israel.”

“Hopkins is deeply committed to free expression, but it has to be done safely and in a manner that respects university rules and norms,” Hopkins President Ron Daniels said in the release. “It is my fervent hope that at Hopkins, we can together continue our focus on the important work of a university — to engage in dialogue and learning with one another regarding challenging and complex issues such as these.”

The encampment began on April 28, when students pitched tents on the campus lawn known as “The Beach.” Early on, protesters said they would not leave unless Hopkins divest its endowment in companies that support Israel.