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, 9:31 PM EDT

NYPD officers have entered Hamilton Hall through second-floor window

New York Police Department officers have entered Hamilton Hall through the second-floor window.

Apr 30, 2024, 9:13 PM EDT

NYPD moves in at Columbia, begins making arrests

NYPD officers stand guard as they evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University in New York City on April 30, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
NYPD officers stand guard as they evict a building that had been barricaded by pro-Palestinian student protesters at Columbia University in New York City on April 30, 2024. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

New York Police Department officers have moved onto the Columbia University campus and have begun making arrests.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky

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.