University of Wisconsin–Madison has suspended its Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter following a protest that disrupted an official campus event. The university found the group guilty of violating five policies, overriding a faculty committee’s probation recommendation to impose full suspension.
The protest occurred April 29 during a lecture by former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Linda Thomas-Greenfield. SJP members crowded building entrances, used unauthorized amplified sound, distributed materials without permission, and defied dispersal orders. The disruption violated university rules and breached an earlier probation order.
In October 2024, SJP had been placed on a 10-month probation following an encampment protest. A separate investigation opened in December 2024 into further violations of expressive activity guidelines. After the April incident, a university hearing committee recommended probation through August 2026.
Associate Dean of Students Sarah Mangelsdorf rejected that recommendation. Citing repeated infractions and public safety concerns, she suspended the group through January 15, 2026. The suspension bars SJP from hosting events or engaging in public activity. Afterward, the group will remain on probation through May 15, 2026, with limited weekly private meetings allowed.
SJP denies the charges and is appealing to the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs. The group claims the protest was peaceful and politically motivated, targeting what it called the ambassador’s role in blocking Gaza ceasefire resolutions. In a public statement, SJP accused the university of censorship and pledged to continue its advocacy through sympathetic organizations.
UW Police Department spokesman Marc Lovicott defended law enforcement’s handling of the event, pointing to safety risks posed by blocked exits, crowding, and disorderly conduct. No arrests were reported, though campus officials said warnings were ignored during the protest.
