November 14, 2024 — At roughly 6 pm a representative from Three Rivers Winery called the Walla Walla Sheriff’s Office, requesting that officers respond to student protesters outside a Whitman Board of Trustees dinner at Three Rivers Winery in College Place, WA. Concerns over student protests led the College to move their dinner venue from Seven Hills Winery in downtown Walla Walla to Three Rivers Winery. 

Protestors from Students for Justice in Palestine started forming a human chain across the winery’s private access road at about 5:50 pm. When cars attempted to pass through, the protestors moved out of the way. Director of Whitman Security, Greg Powell, gave student protesters five minutes to leave before threatening a call to the Sheriff’s Office. Powell asserted that their concern was student safety, given the 50 mph speed limit on the road student protesters were beside.

“This is for your safety,” Powell said.

Student protesters disagreed with Powell’s assertion that they needed to leave to protect their own safety.

“You can’t call the police because you think I’m gonna get hit by a car,” one student protester said. 

College representatives were concerned with the presence of red paint on protestors’ clothes, anticipating paint to be thrown at cars entering the Winery, according to the responding officers. Red paint was only present on students’ t-shirts. No cans of red paint were visible.   

Security checked each vehicle as it entered the Winery, specifically inspecting license plates. 

“It’s a private event and we want to make sure the folks who are here belong here,” Powell said. 

The Sheriff’s Office arrived on the scene at 6:22 pm. Four Sheriff’s Office vehicles responded. Protesters quickly dispersed as soon as they arrived, and did not speak to officers. 

Officers told Wire reporters that they had received a call about possible disturbance but had no intention of arresting students. Officers emphasized that if protesters returned, they were well within their rights to stand their ground, as long as they stayed behind the Winery’s property line and did not block traffic. 

Dean of Students Kazi Joshua asked Wire reporters to leave the parking lot of Three Rivers Winery because it was a “private event.” When asked if this was an order given in an official capacity, Joshua simply walked away. 

The Wire has still not received any official statements from the administration regarding today’s events.

Protesters returned to the Winery around 8:15 pm and continued picketing as Trustees left the venue.

The Sheriff’s Office was called for a second time by Winery faculty; Whitman security denied placing the call.

Officers returned to the scene at 8:41 pm; protesters left shortly after, choosing not to engage with the officers.

A member of the Sheriff’s Office expressed confusion at the protesters’ departure. He emphasized that he had no intention of breaking up the protest.

“I was wondering, like, why did they leave?…I thought maybe they were taking a break because of the cold,” the officer said.