University of Rochester protesters stage sit-in at Wallis Hall. What we know now

Pro-Palestinian student protestors at the University of Rochester have begun a sit-in at Wallis Hall, the main administrative building, the latest escalation in a debate over the university's stance on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas and the Palestinian Gaza Strip.

A student group called Students for Justice in Palestine has maintained a tent encampment on UR's campus since April 23. It has asked UR for a clear statement in support of a full ceasefire as well as university divestment from Israel, requests the university administration has mostly parried.

A video posted to Instagram by SJP shows about 20 building inside Wallis Hall, where President Sarah Mangelsdorf and other top administrators have their offices. The protestors said they are renaming the building Resilience Hall.

UR responded with a message on its website, saying it was "monitoring the situation" with public safety and student life staff and asking people to avoid the area. It affirmed that the students intended a "peaceful sit-in."

University campuses across the country have been roiled by pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with school leadership struggling to find a middle ground between calls for free speech and for an end to the disturbances.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: University of Rochester protesters stage sit-in at Wallis Hall