Pro-Palestinian protesters push back as University of Chicago police officers reposition a barricade keeping protesters from the university's quad while the student encampment is dismantled Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
CHICAGO, Ill. (KFGO) – Former US Senator Heidi Heitkamp was in her office at the University of Chicago when pro-Palestine protesters forced their way into the building Friday evening.
Heitkamp, the director of the University’s Institute of Politics, was one of the few staff members in the building when three demonstrators broke in. She was live on national TV when they walked into her office and demanded that she leave.
“I just asked them, ‘Why us? Why are you here? What do you hope to accomplish?’” Heitkamp told KFGO. “I just basically said I’m not leaving.”
Heitkamp says her refusal threw the intruders off, who wanted to occupy the building. Demonstrators had been gathering outside the building, starting at about 5 p.m. “I just wanted to have a conversation. We are a place of dialogue at the IOP. We don’t put our fingers on the scale either way.”
She talked to the protesters for about 15 minutes before campus police came in and drove the protesters out. The protesters avoided being detained by jumping out of a second story window onto an awning. Campus police were able to secure the building and barricade the doors.
“At no point did I feel in danger,” Heitkamp said. “They wanted desperately for me to leave.”
After the intruders were forced out, Heitkamp was escorted out of the building by campus police. She let them know she appreciates their work.
“I ran into some of the officers today that were in the building with me yesterday and told them ‘I owe you a cup of coffee,’” she said Saturday. “I told them I have friends who work for Capitol Police and have to deal with this every day. It’s stressful situations for officers to be in.”
Heitkamp was able to be back in her office Saturday.
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