College protests updates: Police begin dismantling University of Chicago encampment
Police entered the campus encampment early Tuesday, WLS reported.
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:
- Over 300 Harvard professors sign letter urging Harvard to negotiate with protesters
- Police begin dismantling encampment at University of Chicago
- MIT students ordered to leave campus encampment
- More than 60 arrests made at UC San Diego
- Harvard president threatens 'involuntary leave' for students who continue encampment
Dozens of protesters arrested at Art Institute of Chicago
Approximately 50 people were arrested, including some students, at The Art Institute of Chicago on Saturday, according to a spokesperson from the museum.
"Today, a group of individuals, including some SAIC students, began a protest in the museum’s North Garden, and as it progressed, protesters surrounded and shoved a security officer and stole their keys to the museum, blocked emergency exits, and barricaded gates," the statement read.
Protesters were offered an alternative location to continue the protest on campus, but they did not accept that offer, according to the spokesperson.
"During multiple rounds of negotiations, SAIC student protesters were promised amnesty from academic sanction and trespassing charges if they agreed to relocate. The School also agreed to meet with a student group to discuss their demands. After approximately five hours, an agreement could not be reached."
Chicago Police Department assisted with ending the protests and arresting individuals, the museum spokesperson said.
University of Virginia president calls removal of protesters 'upsetting, frightening and sad'
The president of the University of Virginia, Jim Ryan, released a statement Saturday on the removal of protesters from the encampment on campus.
Ryan said that up until Friday, the demonstrations on campus had remained peaceful and "complied with requests to adhere to University policies including a long-standing prohibition on erecting tents absent a permit."
However, Ryan said protesters were given a "final warning" on Saturday morning that "was ignored" and the university’s police department officers "were met with physical confrontation and attempted assault."
Virginia State Police were called to clear the encampment after it was deemed an "unlawful" assembly, according to the president.
"I recognize and respect that some will disagree with our decisions,” Ryan said in the statement. “This entire episode was upsetting, frightening and sad."
Police appear to prepare to empty University of Virginia encampment
The University of Virginia alerted students to avoid the chapel area of the school's Charlottesville campus -- where protesters have set up an encampment -- for police activity.
Around 40 police officers from multiple police agencies are on campus to potentially clear pro-Palestinian protesters, according to the student paper, the Cavalier Daily.
Albemarle County Police and Virginia State Police arrived with riot gear to support Charlottesville Police and University Police, according to an affiliate reporter.
UCLA classes to resume on Monday
The University of California Los Angeles announced classes are "expected to resume in full on Monday," in an update Friday evening.
"Campus operations will be limited through the weekend, and are expected to resume in full on Monday. Classes continue remote through the weekend. Work, events and research activities are encouraged to remain remote or be rescheduled wherever possible during that period," UCLA said in a statement.
A law enforcement presence will continue "to be stationed around campus to help promote safety," the university said.
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.
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.