On November 17th, a group of students led a protest that was initially against Student Debt and tuition hikes. Before the march, they expanded the demands to the oppressive language and actions promoted by president elect, Donald Trump. Pitt Against Debt, Pittsburgh Student Solidarity Coalition, NightShade, Socialist Alternative, Pitt Students for a Democratic Society, the Fourth Wave, United Students Against Sweatshops local #31, the autonomous student network, the Pitt chapter of the International Socialist Organization, and several other groups came together to mobilize in explicit opposition to this system.

Following the march, they entered towers lobby (a dorm building on campus) in attempt to show that we, as students, makeup the University, and they deserve the right to peacefully use the spaces they pay for, to educate each other and organize in opposition to the injustices in our world and on our campus.

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One of our friends was detained inside the building for trying to bring in a speaker. After willingly leaving the building, we re-entered to go look for our friend. Upon re-entering, we were met with aggressive force by police officers. Before giving us a chance to leave, the police began screaming "Get Out." They started to seize people, hit them with batons, shoved them against the glass and threw them on the ground. As we exited the dorm building, police officers threatened us with rubber bullets and screamed "Get back!"

The day after, the Dean of Students released a letter condoning the police officer's actions and threatening expulsion for the peaceful protesters.

As community members, faculty, and students, we must show The University that we will not stand for this. As a community, lets demand that The University of Pittsburgh hold the police officers accountable for their actions.

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A statement from a friend: "Let it be known that tonight tuition paying students were forced out of the spaces that exist and are maintained solely for their use by brutal force wielded by policemen who are paid through the tuition these students pay. Let it be known several of these policemen were not in uniform yet still brutalized and intimidated students with tear gas canisters, pistols, and batons, students who were literally just standing in the wrong place."