More than 200 hundred protesters — many of them students — occupied the Auraria campus on Thursday night to make several demands, notably divestment from corporations that operate in Israel.

The protesters, who chanted anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian slogans, also asked to meet with Michelle Marks, chancellor of the University of Colorado Denver, to discuss how to implement their demands.

The protest in front of the Tivoli Student Union is the latest in what has been a wave of pro-Palestinian rallies on campuses across the United States in the last several days and increasing worries by Jewish students for their physical safety.

Among those who joined the protest was Rep. Elisabeth Epps, a Democrat who was reprimanded for joining pro-Palestinian protesters in the House gallery back in November. At the time, Epps called fellow lawmakers "fascist." The reprimand from House Speaker Julie McCluskie included a sternly-worded warning that such actions in the future could lead to more serious consequences.

"You are our best shot at this," Epps said, referring to the protesters' goal of "freeing Palestine." "It's always darkest when an empire is about to fall."

Rep. Tim Hernandez, another Democratic legislator from Denver, also joined Thursday's protest.

"When the sun goes down, you will not be alone," Hernandez said, noting the pro-Palestinian protests occurring in campuses elsewhere in the country.

Hernandez had participated in a pro-Palestine gathering on the west steps of the state Capitol a day after the deadly Hamas attacks on Israel and faced calls for reprimand from Republicans. His Democratic colleagues also called for Hernandez to explain his decision to join the October rally. Nearly a week later, Hernandez condemned Hamas for the violent attack and apologized for the "harm I have caused to many in the Jewish community and the Israeli community this week."

In addition to divestment, the protesters also demanded that the University of Colorado end its study abroad programs to Israel and refuse grants or funding from corporations that contract with the U.S. military.

They demanded that the university "write and publish a statement condemning the genocidal actions of Israel."

While pro-Palestinian protests are not new, the activists in Denver set up about a dozen tents, potentially setting up a showdown with university officials. It was unclear at press time how university officials will respond. At least five police cruisers were seen nearby, but left after dusk.

"From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," the protesters chanted.

The river is the Jordan and the sea is the Mediterranean, between which lie Israel and the Palestinian territories. Palestinian activists say it’s a call for peace and equality after 75 years of Israeli statehood and decades-long Israeli military rule over millions of Palestinians.

Jews hear a clear demand for Israel’s annihilation.

Khalid Hamu, a senior at the University of Colorado-Denver, said the protest started about noon Thursday. Meanwhile, a representative from Protest Legal Defense Committee used a bullhorn to provide legal advice to the protesters just before 6 p.m., telling the crowd to remain silent, ask for an attorney, don't consent to a search and ask if free to go.

The representative declined to comment to The Denver Gazette.

"For months and months I've been watching children being killed with our money," said Shannon Birch, a Colorado State University senior.

Birch said she had been there all day.

Chants of "free, free Palestine" echoed off the Tivoli building.

Jazmine Bjelland, a former CU-Denver student, said she came with a first aid kit, a gallon of water and baking soda to treat anyone who might suffer from a tear gas.

Similar protests have erupted elsewhere in the country.

In New York, more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters had been arrested at Columbia University, prompting the Ivy League school to cancel in-person classes and religious leaders to encourage Jewish students to celebrate Passover elsewhere.

At Michigan State University, students set up an encampment on campus to pressure the university to divest in Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Robyn Hughey, executive director of the Hillel Jewish Student Center at the university, called the encampments "deeply concerning and problematic."

"Students have a right to protest, but they do not have the right to intimidate or threaten Jewish students," Hughey said. "Our most important priority is keeping Jewish students safe — first, foremost, and always. The university has indicated that the protesters will be required to obtain a permit from the Board of Trustees to continue their encampment. It is my hope that the board and administration will enforce the universities own ordinances as it continues to balance safety with free speech."

Several organizations said they have noted a rise in antisemitism prior to Oct. 7 — and that has only escalated after the Hamas attacks and Israel's response.

A new study from the Anti-Defamation League and Hillel International, which surveyed American college students, said that, prior to Oct. 7, some 67% of Jewish students felt physically safe on campus. After Oct. 7, that dropped to 46%.

An official of Hillel of Colorado, the local chapter of the Jewish student organization, in February wrote how "we’ve watched the change brew."

"Nowhere in Hillel of Colorado’s mission and vision statements do the words 'working to keep Jewish college students safe from harm' appear. Such a promise wasn’t needed — until now," wrote Shira Teed, the assistant director of the organization.

"We may, indeed, now wonder if the past 70 years or so will go down as our Golden Age for the Jews in America," she said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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