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
USC protest encampment being cleared: Police
A pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus of the University of Southern California was being cleared Sunday morning as campus police warned protesters to leave or be arrested.
The announcement came as the USC Department of Public Safety closed the campus "as a result of significant activity at the center of campus."
"If you are in the center of campus, please leave. People who don’t leave will be arrested. We will issue another alert when it is clear to return," the DPS said on X.
The campus police said officers from the Los Angeles Police Department are assisting in "clearing the center" of the University Park Campus.
Sunday's action came after USC President Carol Folt sent an email to the school's community, saying "steps would be taken to ensure a quiet and safe environment for students to complete their finals."
“[L]et me be absolutely clear: free speech and assembly do not include the right to obstruct equal access to campus, damage property, or foment harassment, violence, and threats,” Folt said. “Nor is anyone entitled to obstruct the normal functions of our university, including commencement."
-ABC News' Cory Peeler
25 arrested at University of Virginia after police clash with protesters
Authorities arrested 25 protesters at the University of Virginia for trespassing on Saturday, according to the university's communications office.
The school said it was still awaiting confirmation on how many of those arrested were affiliated with UVA.
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."
No arrests made in clearing of USC protest encampment: Official
A pro-Palestinian tent encampment on the University of Southern California campus was cleared out and dismantled Sunday morning without any arrests being made, university officials said.
Joel Curran, a spokesperson for USC, said in a statement that the encampment, established by protesters 12 days ago, was "peacefully" taken down.
“Earlier today, the University of Southern California Department of Public Safety (DPS) successfully removed the illegal encampment rebuilt on the university’s campus. It was necessary to request the Los Angeles Police Department to respond to provide security as this was carried out peacefully," Curran said. "No arrests have been reported. We want to thank LAPD for assisting DPS in clearing the encampment and restoring normalcy for students and community as quickly and safely as possible. We will share more information with our community later today.”
-ABC News' Tristan Maglunog