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, 4:06 AM EDT

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.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters

PHOTO: 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.
Protesters hang banners on the exterior of Hamilton Hall building after barricading themselves inside the building at Columbia University, after an earlier order from university officials to disband the protest encampment supporting Palestinians, or face suspension, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in New York City, U.S., April 30, 2024.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters

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, 2024, 11:35 PM EDT

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

Apr 29, 2024, 10:51 PM EDT

'Multiple arrests' at Virginia Commonwealth University: Officials

"Multiple arrests" were made at Virginia Commonwealth University Monday night, following tense conflict between police and pro-Palestinian protesters on the Richmond campus, officials said.

Addressing the arrests, the university said in a statement that final exams start this week and the school "must provide students the opportunity to safely and successfully complete the semester.

"The gathering violated several university policies. VCU respectfully and repeatedly provided opportunities for those individuals involved -- many of whom were not students -- to collect their belongings and leave," the university's statement continued. "Those who did not leave were subject to arrest for trespassing. While supporting an environment that fosters protected speech and expressive activity, VCU must maintain an atmosphere free of disruption to the university’s mission."

-ABC News' Beatrice Peterson and Davone Morales

Apr 29, 2024, 5:27 PM EDT

Columbia begins suspending students who refuse to leave encampment

A representative from Columbia University said the school began suspending students who have defied the 2 p.m. deadline to leave the encampment.

Ben Chang, the vice president of the office of public affairs, did not say how many people would be suspended but said those students would not be able to attend classes or graduate.

"Students who agree to leave and sign a form committed to abide by university policies will be allowed to complete the semester," he said.

The school's campus is still closed to anyone who doesn't have a student ID.

Chang reiterated that the negotiations with the groups protesting were being done in good faith until discussions broke down.

"We were hopeful and were disappointed when the student protesters could not reach a consensus in the discussion," he said.

-ABC News' Darren Reynolds