ANN ARBOR (WWJ) - Student protestors at the University of Michigan managed to occupy the school's administrative building for nearly eight hours on Friday.
More than 50 campus groups -- including Students Allied for Freedom & Equality and Jewish Voice For Peace -- organized the protest, calling on President Santa Ono to have the University disinvest in Israel.
Police said roughly 200 protestors breached locked doors and managed to rush past security guards to hold a large-scale sit-in at the Alexander G. Ruthven Building, which they occupied up until 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 17.
In response, police were present on campus and at the building, keeping protestors from entering the president's office.
Protestors said their goal was speak with Ono directly about their concerns and questions over certain companies the university is investing in.
The incident prompted a massive police presence from University of Michigan Police, Ann Arbor Police, Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Michigan University Police, Michigan State Police, Northfield Township Police, Ypsilanti Police, Van Buren Township Police, Milan Police and the Pittsfield Department of Public Safety.
Officials said the Ruthven Administration Building was emptied and secured before 11 p.m.
President Ono wasn't present at the administrative building when the students rushed in. An official from the university stated the President Ono is aware of the students’ concerns.
Students who did not leaving the building were issued trespassing violations by police. As reported by MLive, around 40 protesters were reportedly arrested.