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.
May 02, 2024, 3:57 PM EDT

Rutgers give students 4 p.m. deadline to clear out encampment

Rutgers University gave pro-Palestinian protesters a 4 p.m. deadline to clear their encampment, warning that if they do not clear the area of their tents and belongings, "they will be considered to have trespassed" and the university will clear the encampment with the help of law enforcement.

Rutgers said Students for Justice in Palestine called for a significant rally coinciding with the beginning of exam period with the intent to disrupt finals. Exams scheduled for Thursday that were disrupted by the protests were rescheduled or relocated.

"The morning rally disrupted 28 scheduled exams, impacting more than 1,000 students. While the protesters eventually responded to our request to cease their disruption, the disruption adversely impacted our students and University operations and forced our postponement announcement," President Jonathan Holloway said in a statement.

"We value free speech and the right to protest, but it should not come at the cost of our students’ education and safety. We strive to balance these rights and maintain a safe and secure environment for our students to learn and succeed," Holloway said.

May 02, 2024, 1:03 PM EDT

Photos show the aftermath of police clearing encampment at UCLA

Photos taken Thursday show the aftermath of police clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA where at least 132 people were arrested.

The remnants of an encampment are seen on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles after a police raid led to the arrests of more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters, Thursday, May 2, 2024.
KABC

The remnants of an encampment are seen on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles after a police raid led to the arrests of more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters, Thursday, May 2, 2024.
KABC

The remnants of an encampment are seen on the campus of UCLA in Los Angeles after a police raid led to the arrests of more than 100 pro-Palestinian protesters, Thursday, May 2, 2024.
KABC

May 02, 2024, 12:52 PM EDT

2 arrests made as police empty library occupied by Portland State University protesters

Portland police have arrested two people outside the Portland State University campus library, as they move to clear the building, which was occupied by protesters. Police said they encountered "barricades" as they entered the building.

Police arrest a pro-Palestinian protester who ran from the occupied Portland State University Library building, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Portland, Ore., May 2, 2024.
Jan Sonnenmair/Reuters

Individuals remaining in the building are under arrest for second-degree trespassing, police announced Thursday. The area surrounding the library has been closed off.

Police also warned that anyone resisting arrest could have force used against them and be subject to more criminal charges.

May 02, 2024, 11:34 AM EDT

Biden says free speech and rule of law 'must be upheld'

President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Thursday saying that free speech and the rule of law must both be upheld.

"We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent, the American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is the best tradition of how Americans respond to controversial issues," Biden said, speaking from the White House.

But, he condemned the destruction of property, shutting down campuses and forcing the cancelation of classes and graduation, saying it isn't peaceful protest.

"Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others so students can finish the semester and their college education," Biden said.

President Joe Biden speaks about the protests over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, May 2, 2024, in Washington.
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Biden last commented on college protests on April 22 -- before there was an escalation of suspension and arrests at campuses across the country -- at the time condemning antisemitic actions and those who don't understand the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, a message he reiterated Thursday.

"There is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind whether it's anti-Semitism, islamophobia or discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans. It’s simply wrong. There’s no place for racism in America," Biden said.