College protests updates: Police begin dismantling University of Chicago encampment

Police entered the campus encampment early Tuesday, WLS reported.

ByNadine El-Bawab, Bill Hutchinson, and Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: May 7, 2024, 2:01 PM EDT

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 headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Apr 30, 2024, 8:50 PM EDT

Columbia authorizes NYPD to move onto campus

New York City has received authorization from Columbia University to send the NYPD onto campus, a senior city official told ABC News.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky

Apr 30, 2024, 8:50 PM EDT

USC President condemns swastika drawn on campus

University of Southern California President Carol Folt released a statement Tuesday after being alerted to an alleged swastika drawn on the USC campus.

"I've just been made aware of a swastika drawn on our campus," Folt said in an update on X Tuesday afternoon.

"I condemn any antisemitic symbols or any form of hate speech against anyone. Clearly it was drawn there to incite even more anger at a time that is so painful for our community," Folt continued.

Folt said the university is investigating and that the swastika has been removed.

Apr 30, 2024, 8:37 PM EDT

Columbia University students told to shelter in place amid ongoing protest

Columbia University students were told to shelter in place Tuesday evening due to "heightened activity" on the Morningside campus.

Police watch as pro-Palestinian supporters continue to demonstrate outside of an encampment on the campus of Columbia University on April 30, 2024 in New York City.
Spencer Platt/Getty Images

"Shelter in place for your safety due to heightened activity on the Morningside campus," the university’s emergency management operations team said in an alert Tuesday.

Officials warned that "Non-compliance may result in disciplinary action" and that students should "avoid the area until further notice."

Apr 30, 2024, 7:37 PM EDT

City College of New York shifting remote amid protests

The City College of New York said it will hold classes remotely starting on Wednesday until further notice due to "current encampment activities" on the Manhattan campus.

Campus buildings will be closed except to essential personnel, the university said.

PHOTO: City University of New York (CUNY) Public Safety officers stand by a vehicle as students and pro-Palestinian supporters occupy a plaza at the City College of New York campus in New York City, April 27, 2024.
City University of New York (CUNY) Public Safety officers stand by a vehicle as students and pro-Palestinian supporters occupy a plaza at the City College of New York campus, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, April 27, 2024.
David Dee Delgado/Reuters

The announcement comes nearly a week after the university, which is part of the City University of New York (CUNY) system, said a group of demonstrators calling themselves the "CUNY Gaza Solidarity Encampment" set up a tent encampment on the campus' quad.

"The demonstrators appear to be made up of students, faculty and staff from City College and across the CUNY system and a sizable contingent that is not affiliated with any CUNY campus," City College President Vince Boudreau said in a letter to the community earlier this week, noting that school leaders had begun discussions with representatives from the group.

"We are working to minimize risks to people within the encampment and to protect all members of our campus community, while also minimizing the encampment's impact on campus operations," Boudreau said.