Pro-Palestinian campus protests at universities across the country - including Sac State and Cal Poly Humboldt. Also, Loaves and Fishes responds to a landmark Supreme Court case on homelessness. Finally, Nevada County holds a “Dark Sky Photo Contest.”

Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests

Hundreds of students have been arrested following pro-Palestinian protests at college campuses across the country. The demonstrations and encampments are in support of the people of Gaza, and come with demands that universities divest from companies that do business with Israel. The organization behind the national movement is Students for Justice in Palestine, which says it’s supporting over 350 solidarity organizations across the U.S., including California state universities like Sacramento State. Cal Poly Humboldt demonstrations escalated over the past week. The university says 25 people were arrested Tuesday morning after protesters occupied two campus buildings and defied orders to disperse last Friday. Cal Poly Humboldt put a hard closure to campus over the weekend that extends through May 10 — the end of the semester. Kianna Znika is a student journalist and the station manager for KRFH, the student-run radio station at Cal Poly Humboldt. Sage Alexander is a reporter with the Times-Standard. Keith David Watenpaugh is a Professor and Director of Human Rights Studies at UC Davis.

Sacramento State and Cal Poly Humboldt were both invited to the show but declined. The Cal State Office of the Chancellor declined an interview, but in a statement responded to how CSU campuses are responding to demonstrations, “While the CSU operates as a system, it consists of 23 universities, each with unique sets of circumstances and local jurisdictions. As such, campuses are best qualified to make real-time decisions through a local lens, while understanding they have the support of the Chancellor’s Office.”

Loaves & Fishes

The Supreme Court is still considering the case of Grants Pass v. Johnson, which has been described as the most important case about homelessness in decades. The legal question revolves around whether unhoused people can be criminally punished for sleeping or camping outside, even if adequate shelter is not available. Loaves & Fishes Executive Director Angela Hassell joins Insight to talk about the services her organization provides, and what a Supreme Court decision could mean for the unhoused community here in Sacramento, which faces both a homelessness and affordable housing crisis.

Dark Sky Photo Contest

There has been a growing “dark skies” push from cities and counties that want to maintain an unadulterated night sky in rural spaces and protected wildlands. In an effort to raise awareness about light pollution, Nevada County launched Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark, a photo contest capturing the naturally dark sky and its beauty - as well as the impact bright city lights can have on the landscape. Nevada County District 1 Supervisor Heidi Hall and Project Administrator Ariel Lovett join Insight with more on the contest and overall mission.