by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

About 25 masked demonstrators, many wearing head scarves and keffiyehs, blocked the entrances to Bridges Hall of Music Tuesday, disrupting Pomona College’s convocation ceremony. The protest, which prevented spectators from attending the 11 a.m. event, was organized by Pomona Divest from Apartheid, a pro-Palestinian group comprised of Claremont Colleges students.

The convocation ceremony began at 11 a.m. Demonstrators walked in a circle in front of the hall, and a television news helicopter hovered overhead. Minutes later, campus safety officers asked protesters to move from the entrances, remove their masks, and identify themselves with school ID. No one complied.

Faculty and students exited Bridges Hall of Music about 11:30 and proceeded unimpeded by protesters to the steps of Carnegie Hall for a photo.

A Pomona College staff member who refused to identify himself told the Courier to leave campus shortly before the ceremony, under threat of arrest for misdemeanor trespassing on private property. No one present at Tuesday’s demonstration, including Pomona College faculty, staff, and protesters, would speak to the Courier.

Pomona College sent an email to students Monday to inform them the school’s new no face covering policy would be enforced at Tuesday’s convocation ceremony. A sign outside the Bridges Hall read, “The following safety guidelines will be enforced during this College event: Pomona College ID card must be presented for entry. Masks will NOT be permitted inside the venue unless medically necessary. (Masked individuals will be asked to remove their mask for identification only.)”

No masked demonstrators appeared to enter the facility.

In a post on Instagram Monday announcing the convocation boycott, a PDA representative wrote, “We reject all mask bans!”

In a statement to the Courier, Pomona College Interim Chief Communications Officer Patricia Vest wrote, “Pomona College held its convocation ceremony today, an event held each fall marking the opening of the academic year. Unfortunately, protesters blocked entrances and impeded public access to the venue. For the safety of all attendees, the ceremony continued with the stage party only inside the venue, and a live-stream was made available to all College students, faculty and staff.” The ceremony was streamed at pomonacollege.zoom.us/j/89113656201.

The demonstration came a day after a Monday vigil recognizing the death toll in Gaza which was also attended by masked demonstrators outside The Claremont Colleges Library.

Tuesday’s protest was also held days after emails from Pomona College staff that outlined policy changes on campus, some of which included banning encampments. More information on the new policies is at pomona.edu/campus-changes-fall-2024.

Pomona College requires protesters to file an event application ahead of a demonstration. Vest said it was unclear if the protesters who blocked Bridges Hall on Tuesday filed such paperwork.