The Police clear pro-Palestinian camp at George Washington University this Wednesday and arrested protesters, hours after dozens marched to the house of the president of the institution while city officials prepare to appear before Congress on the response to the protests.
The House Oversight and Accountability Committee canceled the hearing after the police action, and its head and other Republicans applauded the action.
The leader of the lower house, the Republican Michael Johnsondeclared “it should not require the threat of summoning the mayor of the capital before Congress to protect the Jewish students at George Washington University”.
Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith had been called to testify before the Republican-led commission.
Also Tuesday night, police arrived to clear the camp at the University of Massachusetts. Video from the scene in Amherst shows the hours-long operation, in which dozens of riot police systematically took down tents and detained protesters. The operation lasted until early Wednesday morning. Police reported that about 130 people were arrested after protesters refused to disperse..
In New York City, Police arrested 50 people outside the Fashion Institute of Technology (Fashion Institute of Technology) on Tuesday night, after demonstrators protesting nearby arrived to support the student camp.
Tensions have increased in clashes with students protesting against the war between Israel and Hamas at universities throughout the United States and, increasingly, in Europe. Some institutions cracked down immediately. Others have tolerated the demonstrations. Some have begun to lose patience and call the police over concerns about disruptions to campus life and safety.
Police use pepper spray at pro-Palestinian protesters
District of Columbia police said officers acted to disperse protesters because “there has been a gradual escalation in the volatility of the protest.” He added that 33 arrests were made. Some protesters were pepper-sprayed when police prevented them from entering the camp.
George Washington University had warned of possible suspensions from continuing the encampment at University Yard. Protesters carrying signs saying “Free Palestine” and “Hands off Rafah” They also marched Tuesday night to President Ellen Granberg’s home.
“While the university is committed to protecting students’ rights to free expression, the camp had become an illegal activity, with participants in direct violation of multiple university policies and city regulations,” a statement from the school read. . He later said normal operations had resumed following “the orderly and safe operation” to clear the protesters.
Since April 18, just over 2,600 people have been arrested at 50 universitiesaccording to calculations by The Associated Press based on reports from universities and authorities.
Other schools are allowing students to organize themselves as they see fit.
The president of Wesleyan University, a liberal arts school in Connecticut, said the pro-Palestinian demonstration on campus, which includes tents, is a act of political expression. The camp there has grown from about 20 tents a week ago to more than 100.
“The cause of the protesters is important: to draw attention to the murder of innocent people,” university president Michael Roth wrote to the university community on Thursday. “And we continue to give them space to do so, as long as that space does not disrupt campus operations.”
