College protests updates: Hundreds arrested, encampments removed
Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.
Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.
The student protests — some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments — have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.
Latest Developments
Apr 30, 1:32 PM
Columbia threatens ‘consequences’ for protesters who occupied building
Columbia University has threatened student protesters with “clear consequences” after protesters occupied a building in an escalating standoff. Students defied a 2 p.m. deadline to disperse Monday.
Students occupying the building face expulsion, the university warned.
“We made it very clear yesterday that the work of the University cannot be endlessly interrupted by protesters who violate the rules. Continuing to do so will be met with clear consequences. Protesters have chosen to escalate to an untenable situation—vandalizing property, breaking doors and windows, and blockading entrances—and we are following through with the consequences we outlined yesterday,” Columbia said in a statement.
Students who did not commit to the terms Columbia’s proposed agreement to vacate the encampment by 2 p.m. Monday have been suspended.
“Those students will be restricted from all academic and recreational spaces and may only access their individual residence. Seniors will be ineligible to graduate,” Columbia said.
“This is about responding to the actions of the protesters, not their cause,” Columbia said.
Apr 30, 1:15 PM
Columbia limits access to Morningside campus
Columbia University said it has limited access to its Morningside campus except to students residing in seven residential buildings, labs and employees who provide essential services.
The school has also limited access into and out of the building to one gate, closing all other campus entry points.
The restrictions will remain in place “until circumstances allow otherwise,” Columbia said.
A person looks out of a window at Hamilton Hall in Columbia University, which student protesters barricaded during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, Apr. 30, 2024.
New York Police Department officers said they would not enter the property unless Columbia requests it, or there is an imminent threat.
Apr 30, 12:31 PM
82 protesters arrested at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech said it has cleared an encampment on campus and arrested 82 protesters for trespassing, after refusing to comply with university policies.
“Virginia Tech strongly supports free speech, even when the content of that speech may be disagreeable to some. However, those rights do not extend beyond the point where they interfere with the rights of others, violate our policies, the Code of Virginia, or federal laws and/or create a threat to safety for others,” Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Virginia Tech Muslim Student Association said in a letter the 91 students faculty and staff were arrested for peacefully protesting.
“As we reach the end of the semester, 7 months after Oct. 7, we are finding our voices still unheard. We are waiting for your support of us and Palestine,” the Virginia Tech MSA said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Nadine El-Bawab and Kerem Inal
Apr 30, 12:00 PM
Cal Poly Humboldt clears occupied buildings, arrests 25 protesters
California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt said it has cleared two campus buildings that had been occupied by protesters for over a week and arrested 25 people.
“Those arrested faced a range of different charges depending on individual circumstances including unlawful assembly, vandalism, conspiracy, assault of police officers, and others. In addition, students could face discipline for conduct violations while any University employees arrested could face disciplinary action,” Cal Poly said in a statement.
Pro-Palestinian protesters hold up signs while occupying a building on the campus of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in Arcata, Calif., Monday, April 22, 2024.
The university called the occupation of the two buildings “criminal activity” and said there were “serious concerns it would spread even further on campus.”
“This morning’s enforcement action was determined to be necessary to restore order and to address the lawlessness and dangerous conditions that had developed. What was occurring was not free expression or a protest,” the university said in a statement.
The campus will remain closed until May 10.
Apr 30, 11:46 AM
Northwestern reaches deal with students, faculty to end encampment, reveal investments
Northwestern University announced it has reached a deal with pro-Palestinian protesters, ending an encampment of students and faculty, but allowing peaceful demonstrations to continue through June 1.
The university said it would “answer questions from any internal stakeholder about holdings, held currently or within the last quarter, to the best of its knowledge and to the extent legally possible” — meeting a key call from divestment protesters and students around the country who are seeking more transparency over universities’ investments.
Northwestern will also reestablish an Advisory Committee on Investment Responsibility in the fall, which will include representatives from students, faculty and staff.
Signs are displayed in front of Deering Meadow, where an encampment of students are protesting in support of Palestinians, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, at Northwestern University campus in Evanston, Ill., April 25, 2024.
The university also pledged more inclusivity, funding two Palestinian faculty members and the full cost of attendance for five Palestinian undergraduate students annually, as well as a commitment to raising funds to sustain the program beyond this commitment.
Under the agreement, Northwestern says tents will be removed immediately but one aid tent will be allowed to remain. Protesters will need to suspend the use of “non-approved” amplified sound.” Protesters who refuse to follow the agreement will be suspended and non-affiliated individuals must leave campus.
Apr 30, 11:12 AM
UConn removes encampment, makes arrests after protesters refuse to leave
The University of Connecticut cleared an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters early Tuesday after they refused orders to disperse. UConn has not yet revealed the number of arrests and charges.
UConn said that protests were permitted but setting up tents violated university guidelines.
“The group was warned multiple times over a period of days that while they were free to be in the space and exercise their free speech rights, the guidelines needed to be followed and the tents needed to be taken down. This was ignored,” UConn said in a statement.
“UConn Police directed them four times on Tuesday morning to remove the tents and disperse, and they again repeatedly ignored the directives. Officers then entered the site to remove the tents and tarps, and to arrest those who refused compliance,” UConn said in a statement.
-ABC News’ Mark Osborne
Apr 30, 10:57 AM
Reporter detained while covering protest on Cal Poly campus
Adelmi Ruiz, a reporter for Redding, California, ABC affiliate KRCR, was detained at Cal Poly Humboldt while filming police approaching an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters.
A livestream showed Ruiz filming police in riot gear approaching protesters, who could be heard chanting, when an officer asks her to come over and tells her they need her out of the way.
An officer then tells Ruiz to put her phone away and put her hands behind her back because he is going to put her in flex cuffs — plastic handcuffs used by police for protesters. Ruiz identifies herself as a reporter multiple times but is still arrested.
“You had an opportunity to leave. You were told multiple times to leave otherwise you were gonna be arrested,” the officer says, according to a livestream which continued after Ruiz placed her phone in her pocket.
She responded that she was on assignment covering the protest.
“Find a different job if this causes you to break the law,” the officer says.
As she is escorted away, Ruiz can be heard asking for help.
The Humboldt County sheriff has confirmed Ruiz will not face any charges.
Apr 30, 9:42 AM
17 protesters arrested at University of Utah, encampment cleared
The University of Utah has removed an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters and arrested 17 people after the university said protesters do not have a right to set up encampments on campus property and threatened to disperse them.
About a dozen tents, stashes of water, food and toilet paper were removed from the encampment.
The university had issued warnings to students, staff and faculty members telling them to remove their encampments, or face consequences, including arrests.
The university had threatened criminal trespass and disorderly conduct charges, termination for faculty and staff and discipline for students ranging from probation to suspension against those who refused to leave the encampment.
Apr 30, 4:40 AM
Columbia protesters occupy campus hall
Pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University occupied a hall on campus early Tuesday, hours after school officials ordered the dispersal of a protest encampment.
Videos viewed by ABC News appeared to show protesters creating a barricade with metal chairs outside Hamilton Hall after midnight.
People and protesters look on as protesters barricade themselves inside Hamilton Hall at Columbia University in New York City, April 30, 2024.
Protesters hang banners on the exterior of Hamilton Hall building after barricading themselves inside the building at Columbia University in New York City, April 30, 2024.
Several were seen in the videos unrolling protest posters from one of the building’s balconies.
It was unclear how many demonstrators had occupied the hall, which is on Amsterdam Avenue. The Columbia Spectator, a campus newspaper, reported the people who were inside were working to block the building’s exits with tables, chairs and zip-ties.
-ABC News’ Jessica Gorman, Felicia Alvarez and Kevin Shalvey
Apr 29, 11:35 PM
University of Texas at Austin says it took action to ‘preserve a safe, conducive learning environment’ for students
After police and protesters clashed on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin following a dispersal order, leading to some arrests on Monday, the school issued a statement, saying it “took swift action to preserve a safe, conducive learning environment for our 53,000 students as they prepare for final exams.”
“UT Austin requested backup assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety to protect the safety of the campus community and enforce our Institutional Rules, such as the rule that prohibits encampments on campus. Because of the encampments and other violations of the University’s Institutional Rules related to protests, protestors were told repeatedly to disperse. When they refused to disperse, some arrests were made for trespassing. Others were arrested for disorderly conduct,” the university’s statement read.
UTA said protests since the start of the Israel-Hamas war have happened “largely without incident.”
“The University strongly supports the free speech and assembly rights of our community and we want students and others on campus to know that protests on campus are fully permissible, provided that they do not violate Institutional Rules or threaten the safety of our campus community,” the statement concluded.
-ABC News’ Marilyn Heck
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