By Ben Lauren PZ ’25

On Nov. 2, the Pomona College Judicial Council (JBoard) found Claremont Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) not responsible on five of its six charges for the organization’s participation in the Oct. 7 takeover of Carnegie Hall.

The majority of Claremont SJP’s six charges were centered around the club’s members attending the protest and their alleged involvement in organizing the takeover; however, JBoard only found them responsible for violating Article III, Section 14 of the Pomona Student Code: Irresponsible or negligent conduct that results in theft, damage, physical harm or threat to a member of the Pomona College community’s property or safety.

JBoard did not find that Claremont SJP organized the protest alongside Pomona Divest from Apartheid (PDfA), who claimed responsibility for the takeover in a press release; however, according to an anonymous member of SJP, they were still found responsible for violating Article III, Section 14 because of a joint Instagram post with PDfA announcing the walkout and the initial rally that took place prior to the takeover.

“The one that we were found responsible for was negligence,” the SJP member said. “They’re basically saying, ‘you should’ve posted the exact timeline and Action Plan of what was happening [that day].”

In an Instagram post on Nov. 1, Claremont SJP announced they were being investigated by Pomona, stating a potential punishment for a protest they did not organize would work to suppress speech on campus about Palestine.

“Pomona is using the events which occurred on campus on 10/07 as an excuse to eliminate Claremont SJP,” they wrote in the post. “If Claremont SJP is sanctioned, it will set a dangerous precedent for pro-Palestinian organizing on campus. By criminalizing the oldest school-affiliated group centered on Palestinian liberation, admin makes it clearer than ever that their priority is continuing to support Israeli apartheid.”

The organization’s sanctions for this violation include mandatory meetings with a member of Claremont Faculty for Justice in Palestine, a written reflection, a plan for a community apology, a statement defining its relationship to Pomona Divest from Apartheid, the organization that claimed responsibility for organizing the protest, and fully prohibiting any public use of their Instagram account until March 31, 2025.

An second anonymous SJP member explained how the sanctions imposed on their Instagram directly target their ability to organize.

“SJP is the primary school affiliated group that’s organizing for Palestine and for divestment,” they said. “So with us being unable to use our Instagram, in this day and age, is a huge setback, and it’s like a very clear and obvious way that they’re trying to stifle organizing on campus.”

Still, the first SJP member stated this was only a minor setback for the organization.

“They think we won’t be able to mobilize without using Instagram,” they said. “So right now we’re going to do a lot of work coming up with creative ways to do that, which I think will lead to some innovative organizing.”

That same SJP member described what they assume to be the purpose of their reflective statement on their relationship with PDFA,

“I think one of the main things that they want to do is disunify the front … because they know that everybody is stronger…when we’re all working as a coalition,” they explained.

Claremont SJP is also mandated to hold two events in collaboration with another club by the end of the academic year. The first SJP member believed Pomona has ulterior motives behind this sanction.

“I suspect this is a way for them to try and surveil who comes in attendance to [these events] … even if we did a vigil,” they said.

As of publication, Pomona Acting Communications Director Patricia Vest did not respond for comment on these allegations.

Regardless, The second SJP member stated that the organization’s exoneration on nearly all counts was ultimately a victory for pro-Palestinian organizing across college campuses nationwide, citing the numerous cases of SJP chapters being shut down around the county.

“I think this was a win for sure,” the first SJP member said. “I’m really excited that SJP is still able to continue to exist. If we hadn’t gone as hard as we did in the trial, the future of pro Palestine human rights organizing on these campuses would be completely changed … We’re surrounded by highly intelligent students, and our judicial process allows us to talk to peers, not just admins who’ve already made up their mind. That’s something that’s really special about this place, and allows for us to push back even harder.”