Mayor Ed Gainey Statement Regarding Peaceful End to Protest on University of Pittsburgh Campus
Over the past several months, I’ve had the opportunity to hear from leaders and members of our Jewish community, as well as those from our Palestinian and Arab communities.
The thing that I keep hearing, is that that they all want to live in a city where they can feel safe at work, safe at school, safe in their places of worship, and safe as they go about their lives in our city.
We have seen a rise in Anti-Semitism, and a rise in Anti-Arab activity, and in order to build a city where everyone can feel safe it is clear to me that the only way we can reach that goal, is to honor the humanity of all people.
That means continuing to meet with and support our local Jewish community and speaking out against Anti-Semitism and the loss of innocent Israeli lives.
It also means that we must condemn Anti-Arabic activity and recognize the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the loss of innocent Palestinian lives.
As mayor of the City of Pittsburgh I have no authority over an international conflict.
My role, as mayor of the city of Pittsburgh, is to keep this city safe.
And last night our number one priority was about finding a way towards a safe resolution to a situation that had become unstable.
As we received information about the increased instability of the encampment, I gathered with members of my senior leadership team, and the County Executive.
It was at that point that we made the decision to attempt to make contact with the individuals involved with the protest in order to deescalate the situation.
As we made contact and sat down to meet, we made it clear to them that this meeting was not an endorsement of their demands.
But in order to move people, we needed to break down barriers, and sit down to hear them. Other than sitting down to meet with the Chancellor, we did not discuss any of their demands of the University.
Our conversation was focused solely on how to keep everyone safe.
We provided them with information about our efforts to attempt to deescalate the situation, and provided our assessment of what was likely to happen so they could make an informed decision for themselves.
At the conclusion of our meeting, we facilitated their return to the encampment in order for them to share with all those involved, and they made the decision to leave Pitt’s campus peacefully.
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