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The University of Pennsylvania football team isn’t usually at the center of the college football world. But it was on Saturday, The Quakers currently sit at 5-0 and atop the Ivy League at 2-0 in the conference.
They welcomed 4-1 Yale to historic Franklin Field on Saturday for homecoming. The two teams entered the half tied at 10-10 in a game that figured to have major implications in the conference going forward. But nearly an hour later, the game has yet to be restarted.
Penn Students Rush Field To Protest Climate, Community Injustice
That’s because more than 60 protestors from an organization called Fossil Free Penn rushed the field prior to the end of halftime and refused to leave.
BREAKING: Over 60 protestors have rushed Franklin Field during the Penn homecoming football game. The game has been paused for over 30 minutes and protestors — members of Fossil Free Penn — have refused to leave the field. Story to follow.
— The Daily Pennsylvanian (@dailypenn) October 22, 2022
Penn students rush the field nearing the end of halftime of a Penn-Yale football game, protesting climate and community justice from Penn’s administration. pic.twitter.com/LiPkDmC5VO
— Bella DiAmore (@belladiamore) October 22, 2022
The students were reportedly protesting both climate and community injustice.
This is is what the organization’s website has to say about its aims:
As a leading academic institution, the University of Pennsylvania has a moral and financial obligation to divest from the fossil fuel industry. Fossil Free Penn calls for the divestment of the University of Pennsylvania’s $13.8 billion endowment from fossil fuel assets.
The fossil fuel industry is directly responsible for exacerbating climate change, disseminating false information, and funding political corruption. By actively funding these companies, the University of Pennsylvania effectively nullifies any work to mitigate climate change. Remaining invested in this industry is financially, morally, and socially reckless.
1. Stop new investments in the fossil fuel industry.2. Remove direct and commingled holdings in the top 200 fossil fuel companies within 5 years.
3. Reinvest a portion of the extricated funds into clean energy assets.
The group also handed out fliers to fans in the stands about their goals. Most students were eventually escorted off the field but as of 3:30 some still remained.
Message from Penn students, who handed these out to fans in the stands. pic.twitter.com/YMaAAwy5uX
— Bella DiAmore (@belladiamore) October 22, 2022
A large group of student protesters were escorted off the field. A few remain, holding up the signs. pic.twitter.com/dtj1A8zhjo
— Bella DiAmore (@belladiamore) October 22, 2022
Eventually, all students were removed and play did resume.
Both Penn and Yale’s fans cheer as the remaining protesters have been arrested and dragged off the field. Play to begin soon.
— Daily Penn Sports (@DailyPennSports) October 22, 2022
But it takes the cake for weirdest scene of the college football weekend.