College protests updates: Police crackdown leads to hundreds of arrests

Hundreds were arrested at USC, Emerson and UT Austin in the last day.

ByABC NEWS
Last Updated: April 25, 2024, 5:54 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 25, 2024, 5:54 PM EDT

Columbia University enhancing security due to planned protests

Columbia University said it is enhancing security along the campus' perimeter after it was made aware of several "potentially significant" protests planned outside the gates of its Manhattan campus Thursday evening.

The New York City Police Department is adding officers "to maintain safety" and people are being asked to avoid the area, the university said in a message to the school community. The protests are expected to start around 6 p.m. ET., it said.

The campus remains restricted to Columbia University ID holders.

The university is in formal discussions with student protesters regarding dismantling an encampment on campus, a university spokesperson said.

Apr 25, 2024, 4:29 PM EDT

UT demonstrators arrested Wednesday won't face charges at this time

Demonstrators who were arrested Wednesday at the University of Texas will not be facing charges at this time and have been ordered released due to deficiencies in probable cause, according to the Travis County Attorney’s Office.

Fifty-five people were arrested -- 26 of whom were unaffiliated with UT Austin -- the university said Thursday.

"This outside group presence is what we've seen from the affiliated national organization's efforts to disrupt and create disorder," the university said in a statement.

A student quietly stares at a row of Texas State Troopers as pro-Palestinian students protest the Israel-Hamas war on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, on April 24, 2024.
Suzanne Cordeiro/AFP via Getty Images

The attorney's office said it received several cases Wednesday after the demonstration at UT Austin.

"Legal concerns were raised by defense counsel. We individually reviewed each case that was presented and agreed there were deficiencies in the probable cause affidavits. The Court affirmed and ordered the release of those individuals. We will continue to individually review all cases presented to our office to determine whether prosecution is factually and legally appropriate," the Travis County Attorney's Office said in a statement.

Apr 25, 2024, 4:16 PM EDT

Northeastern says it will 'take action' against demonstrators

Northeastern University in Boston said it will "take action accordingly" against pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrating on its Centennial Quad on Thursday.

"The quads on Northeastern's Boston campus are reserved by the division of Student Life for scheduled university events," a university spokesperson said in a statement. "Students currently demonstrating on Centennial Quad do not have authorization and are in violation of the Code of Student Conduct. Those who are not affiliated with Northeastern are trespassing. The university will take action accordingly."

Police respond to an encampment started by students protesting the war in Gaza at Northeastern University in Boston, April 25, 2024.
WCVB

Apr 25, 2024, 3:59 PM EDT

Main USC graduation ceremony canceled

The University of Southern California has canceled its main graduation ceremony, the school announced Thursday.

"With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially," the school said in a statement. "As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m."

The individual school commencement ceremonies will continue as planned, it said.

The decision comes after USC had previously canceled this year's valedictorian speech while citing potential threats regarding the selection of the valedictorian, who expressed pro-Palestinian views on social media. It subsequently canceled all commencement speakers.