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 28, 2024, 10:09 AM 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.

Apr 27, 2024, 10:54 PM EDT

Columbia University says no impending 'lockdown or evictions on campus'

"There is no truth to claims of an impending lockdown or evictions on campus," Columbia University said in a memo to students Saturday evening.

The dialogue between the university officials and the student organizers remains ongoing, according to the university.

Apr 27, 2024, 8:20 PM EDT

23 arrested at Indiana University encampment

Twenty-three people were arrested Saturday at an encampment at Indiana University, the university said.

A group erected tents and canopies on the Bloomington campus' Dunn Meadow Friday night "with the stated intention to occupy the university space indefinitely," in violation of school policy, the university said in a statement.

University and state police gave the group "multiple warnings" midday Saturday to remove the structures before detaining them for charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement, the university said. It is unclear what their affiliation with the university is, the school said.

"The Indiana University Police Department continues to support peaceful protests on campus that follow university policy," the university said in a statement.

The IU Divestment Coalition, a Pro-Palestinian campus group that organized the protest, said many of those arrested were students.

"They are trying to intimidate us, they are trying to break our spirit and our organizing but we will continue to stand for Gaza," the group said on social media.

Apr 27, 2024, 5:24 PM EDT

36 protesters arrested at Ohio State University

Ohio State University police have arrested 36 people -- 16 of whom were students -- and charged them with criminal trespassing for encampments that remained overnight.

"Well established university rules prohibit camping and overnight events. On Thursday, April 25, demonstrators, a number of whom were not students, faculty or staff at Ohio State, exercised their First Amendment rights for several hours and were then instructed to disperse," OSU said in a statement.

"Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass. Arrests are not an action that we take lightly, and we appreciate the support of all of our law enforcement partners to disperse the encampment for the safety of our university community. We have always, and always will, take the action that is in the best interest of our community," OSU said.

Apr 27, 2024, 2:51 PM EDT

Arizona State University arrests 69 people, clears pro-Palestinian encampment

Arizona State University announced that campus police have arrested 69 people for trespassing after protesters refused to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment that the university says was "unauthorized."

"Encampments are prohibited on Arizona State University property. Lawful demonstrations can take place except overnight between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.," ASU said in a statement.

"A group of people – most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff – created an encampment and demonstration that continued until 11 p.m. when the group was instructed multiple times to disperse. Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass," ASU said.