More than 500 people have been arrested at pro-Palestinian protests
Students from “Cop City” Against Israel-Hamas War: Emory University, Yale Law School and the University of Southern California
That same day, two graduate students were arrested at Princeton University for setting up encampments in violation of school policy, while more than two dozen people were arrested at Emory University in Atlanta, where participants were also protesting a police training facility nicknamed “Cop City.”
At The University of Southern California, 93 people were arrested Wednesday for trespassing, a misdemeanor offense. The department didn’t say what weapon was used, but one arrest was for assault with a deadly weapon. No injuries were reported, the Los Angeles Police Department said.
Also on Thursday, the University of Southern California in Los Angeles announced it would cancel its main commencement ceremony, citing the need for additional security measures. It had already canceled its valedictorian’s speech because of safety concerns stemming from the backlash she received over her social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.
On the day of the rally, the faculty called for the school’s president, Jay Hartzell, to resign after he praised the school and law enforcement for exercising restraint against the protesters.
Cheryl Elliott, Emory’s vice president for public safety, said in a statement Thursday that the university called in Atlanta police and George State Patrol officers to disperse the crowd after protesters ignored multiple warnings for trespassing. During subsequent confrontations, she said, law enforcement “released chemical irritants into the ground” after protesters threw objects at them.
There is nothing threatening your safety at this moment, let me tell you that,” she said. “But yet you are our primary concern. Student final exams are being moved to protect the integrity of our academic program.
GW Law School Dean Dayna Bowen said in a video message on Thursday that the school is working to move law students’ final exams, which are currently underway, to more quiet and secure locations because of the protests.
A second day of protest is taking place at George Washington University in D.C. despite the 7 pm deadline for clearing the camp.
Dismantling the Setup for Student Protests against the Israeli-Israeli War on Gaza, and Implications for the Future of Columbia University
She is sensitive that graduating seniors spent most of their first year at Columbia remotely. “We all very much want these students to celebrate their well-deserved graduation with family and friends.”
If discussions are not successful, the school will have to look at other options for restoring calm on campus so students can finish the term, says University President Minouche Shafik.
Protesters agreed to take certain precautions, including removing a significant number of tents, limiting protests to Columbia students, and complying with fire department requirements, according to Columbia officials.
The administration originally set a deadline of midnight Tuesday for protesters to dismantle the setup, but repeatedly extended it due to what it described as constructive dialogue.
Israeli authorities said that Hamas launched an attack that killed 1200 Israelis, while Gaza’s health ministry reported that 34,000 Palestinians had been killed in Israel’s military response.
Still, student activists nationwide appear determined to show their support for people in Gaza and push their universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel or who otherwise profit from its war with Hamas.
