Allegheny, PA – The Pittsburgh police force allegedly pepper sprayed summit protesters on Forbes Avenue on Tuesday, July 15th. Roads around Carnegie Mellon University were reportedly blocked off due to the Energy and Innovation Summit taking place on campus. Community protesters rallied at the intersection of Forbes Avenue and Craig Street for hours.
Protesters reportedly expressed concern that AI-industry expansion in Pittsburgh will increase carbon emissions and negatively impact climate change. Sen. Dave McCormick proposes to bring the Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management to Pittsburgh.
In response to growing tensions, CMU administration recently repainted and temporarily closed The Fence, a student-centered space for free expression and community, following a message painted by members of the CMU College Democrats the night before the summit that heightened campus tensions.
In an official statement from Carnegie Mellon University, university President Farnham Jahanian stated that “The Fence tradition has long symbolized the power of visible expression representing diverse viewpoints. But in recent years, it has too often been used to broadcast polarized, one-sided messaging — often anonymous, sometimes ad hominem, and increasingly disconnected from meaningful dialogue.”
As of Monday, July 21st, Carnegie Mellon University has reopened The Fence for student use with “no changes to rules or established traditions”. In the same official statement, Jahanian states that “[he is] committed to creating space for both conversations” and that he understands that “Trump’s visit angered and hurt many in the community.”
The Carnegie Mellon University Student Government will hold two concurrent town hall meetings. Both meetings will be held on Saturday, August 30th from 11:00AM to 2:00PM, offering students a chance to voice their thoughts on free expression and use of The Fence.
