University Says Protesters Left Voluntarily; Students Blame Administrative ‘Escalation’ and Police Threats

Law enforcement issue a dispersal warning over a loudspeaker outside Nelson Hall around 2 a.m. Saturday morning. A portion of the announcement includes the phrase “…which may result in serious injury.” [Video provided by protestors]

About 20 individuals who had been occupying a meeting room inside Nelson Hall East since Friday evening left the building around 2 a.m. Saturday, according to Cal Poly Humboldt. The University said the building was then cleared and secured, and that there were “no arrests or injuries.”

But a statement released late Saturday by student organizers disputes that characterization, alleging that Administration escalation and police intimidation led to the protesters’ departure.

In a message sent to the campus community, University President Richard Carvajal wrote that after discussions earlier in the day, “individuals remained inside Nelson Hall East, which is not consistent with the CSU’s Time, Place, and Manner policy and campus student conduct policies.”

Carvajal stated, “Around 2 a.m., the individuals exited on their own, and the University was able to clear and secure the building. There were no arrests or injuries.”

The University added that individuals “were free to leave” and that it is “following established processes consistent with CSU and Cal Poly Humboldt policies to address the situation.”

However, a press release issued by “The Students of Cal Poly Humboldt” presents a different account.

“Protesters did not just ‘leave on their own,’” the student statement reads. “They left after police surrounded the building and threatened them with violence.”

Officers on campus early Saturday morning. [Crop of a photo provided by protestors]

Video recorded on scene shows law enforcement using a loudspeaker to issue a dispersal warning telling occupants to leave. A portion of the recorded announcement includes the phrase “…which may result in serious injury.”

Reporter Ryan Littleton, who was present overnight, previously told Redheaded Blackbelt that at approximately 1:45 a.m., multiple police vehicles arrived near Nelson Hall and Library Circle and positioned themselves at main entrances. He estimated about eight police cars were present.

In its earlier public statement, the University emphasized that “we respect the right of individuals to express their views,” but added that it must ensure campus operations continue “without disruption.”

Student organizers contend the escalation came from administrators. “This entire situation was completely and easily avoidable,” their statement reads. “The administration could have chosen to meaningfully respond to student demands… Instead, they chose to stall… and ultimately to rely on armed police.”

University officials have said additional security personnel are on campus “to continue normal operations and to support the safety of our community and visitors.”

As of Saturday morning, campus operations were described as normal, though certain buildings remain locked.

Students indicated they plan to continue pressing their demands. The University said it is following established processes and will provide updates if anything changes.

Below are the complete releases from the University and from the students:

Release from Cal Poly Humboldt to the Campus Community and to the press:

A Message from the President February 28, 2026 Our Commitment to Ongoing Dialogue

Dear Campus Community, Yesterday morning, Vice Presidents Mike Fisher, Chrissy Holliday, and Steve Karp, along with faculty and other University and student leadership, met with students and community members for a conversation about their concerns surrounding immigration, global conflict, labor negotiations, and University investments. The conversation was difficult at times but necessary, and we appreciate everyone who took the time to participate and share their perspectives. After the discussion, protestors participated in a sit-in on the quad, moved into Nelson Hall East, and occupied Goodwin Forum. The building was locked, and entry was not allowed, but anyone was free to leave. University leadership and members of the Free Speech Support & Resource Team remained present and in contact with those involved. University leaders then met with individuals inside the building and later shared a written letter with them outlining the University’s commitment to continue working in good faith with the appropriate governance bodies and campus partners on the issues raised. However, the individuals remained inside Nelson Hall East, which is not consistent with the CSU’s Time, Place, and Manner policy and campus student conduct policies. Around 2 a.m., the individuals exited on their own, and the University was able to clear and secure the building. There were no arrests or injuries. We have identified a number of individuals involved in the occupation, and the University is following established processes consistent with CSU and Cal Poly Humboldt policies to address the situation. There are additional security personnel on campus to continue normal operations and to support the safety of our community and visitors. We respect the right of individuals to express their views. At the same time, we must ensure that our campus remains a safe and supportive environment where learning and work can continue without disruption. The campus is open and operating as normal, though certain buildings remain locked. We’ll continue to keep the University community informed if anything changes. We understand that this may be concerning for members of the community. Students needing support can reach out to Counseling & Psychological Services at [email protected], or (707) 826-3236, or access 24/7 telehealth support through TimelyCare’s “TalkNow” feature, and faculty and staff can receive confidential support through the Employee Assistance Program, available 24/7 through Empathia. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our campus community, and we remain committed to continuing constructive and respectful dialogue about the issues that were raised. Sincerely,  Richard Carvajal, Ph.D. President

Statement from the Students

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/28/26

ADMINISTRATION CHOSE POLICE OVER DIALOGUE — STUDENTS CHOSE SOLIDARITY
Arcata, CA
On February 27, the Cal Poly Humboldt administration proved once again that it is unwilling to engage students in good faith when confronted with real demands for change.

The public forum that students won through the February 20 Siemens Hall sit-in was supposed to be a space for accountability and true negotiations. Instead, in the days leading up to it, the administration attempted to water it down into a “listening session”. The administration made it clear that they wanted a space where students would be talked at, not listened to. They also attempted to move the event from the Main Quad, where the public could witness it, into an out-of-the-way indoor location with limited visibility. This was not an accident. It was an attempt to control the narrative and reduce public accountability.

At the forum, Associate Vice President Mike Fisher acted as the primary representative for the administration. Students presented clear, specific demands. What we received in return were deflections, procedural excuses, and carefully crafted non-answers. None of the core demands were meaningfully addressed. When it became clear that the administration would not engage honestly, students exercised their right to peaceful protest. Students marched to the Main Quad and held a sit-in. They later entered Nelson Hall and continued a peaceful sit-in inside Goodwin Forum on the first floor.

Let’s set the record straight: protesters did not close or target the cultural centers. The administration had already shut down Siemens and Nelson Hall before protesters had even entered the building. Goodwin Forum is also on a different floor than the cultural centers, and students never intended for the entire building to be closed in the first place. Students were engaged in a peaceful sit-in in a public university building. It was the administration that chose to shut down the entire building and clear access to cultural centers for the day. Blaming students for that decision is dishonest and this narrative is a clear attempt by the administration to wrongly smear the protesters.

The administration escalated the situation almost immediately. Within minutes of the sit-in beginning, bathrooms throughout Nelson Hall were locked. Students were told that they “didn’t know who locked them,” despite witnesses seeing staff physically locking them after protesters entered. This was not a coincidence. It was a tactic intended to force protesters out without meeting their demands.

As the evening continued, the administration refused to address the students’ demands and instead waited until around 1:00 a.m. to call in the Arcata Police Department. Officers flooded into Library Circle with 8 cars, and shortly after they surrounded the building. Over loudspeakers, protesters were threatened with arrest and warned that failure to leave could result in “serious injury.” Officers were visibly equipped with pepper ball guns, and power to the building was cut. Protesters did not just “leave on their own.” They left after police surrounded the building and threatened them with violence.

This was a peaceful protest with just demands in solidarity with the people of Palestine, immigrant communities all over the country, and the CSU staff who still need their raises honored. The escalation came from the administration alone. This entire situation was completely and easily avoidable. The administration could have chosen to meaningfully respond to student demands. They could have negotiated. They could have listened. Instead, they chose to stall, to rebrand, to deflect, and ultimately to rely on armed police.

Students demanded:
– A permanent ethical investment commitment.
– A real sanctuary campus policy with enforceable protections and material support.
– Public solidarity with Teamsters workers and advocacy at the CSU level.

None of these demands were ever truly addressed. We reject any attempts to rewrite what happened. We reject narratives that shift blame onto students while ignoring administrative decisions. We reject the idea that peaceful protesting warrants violent intimidation by officers carrying riot equipment. If the administration is serious about dialogue, it must demonstrate that seriousness with action, not police.

We will not be intimidated. We will not be divided. And we will not accept performative engagement in place of structural change. We will continue to fight until we are truly heard.
• The Students of Cal Poly Humboldt

Earlier:

• Students Briefly Occupy Siemens Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt This Afternoon
• Cal Poly Humboldt Responds After Yesterday’s Occupation of Siemens Hall by Protestors
• Students Dispute Cal Poly Humboldt’s Investment Claims After Siemens Hall Protest
• Students Occupy Nelson Hall at Cal Poly Humboldt, Citing Unmet Demands
• ‘We Will Not Accept the Response’: Students Remain Overnight in Cal Poly Humboldt’s Nelson Hall
• Students Vacate Nelson Hall Overnight; No Arrests Reported