Protesters occupy Red Square at The Evergreen State College in Olympia

Students of The Evergreen State College have occupied part of the institution’s Red Square as part of a movement across the country in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

University occupations have sprung up across the country following students of New York’s Columbia University, who began their occupation at Columbia’s quad on Wednesday, April 17.

The small group at The Evergreen State College, which appeared to consist of 10 members or less, had set up an encampment of tents and canopies in the Red Square as well as covered the immediate area with Palestinian flags and signage as of Wednesday.

As part of their occupation, which started on April 23, the group demands that The Evergreen State College cut ties with all funding received from Israel, such as the Academic Engagement Network, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization.

Their other demands include that Evergreen not take part in any study abroad programs that would have students in occupied parts of Palestine and that they “pressure (the) state legislature to divest.”

A spokesperson for the group, who didn’t provide a name, said that they are part of an ‘autonomous movement’ and have no affiliation with any student groups or faculty.

The protest appeared to be ongoing as the tents were still present on Thursday, though there were few people in sight.