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.


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'This is just the beginning': Columbia and CUNY students vow to keep 'fighting'

During a press conference on Wednesday evening, student protestors from Columbia University and City University of New York responded to the intervention of the NYPD to dismantle encampments and suspend and arrest hundreds of protesters across both universities last night and today.

"We will not stop fighting. This is just the beginning," Cameron Jones of Columbia’s Justice for Palestine chapter said.

Corinna Mullin, a member of CUNY faculty, joined the press conference and called the students "brave" and said that the administration actions against its own students was "shameful."

The students from Columbia and CUNY vowed to continue their efforts, saying, "The more they will try to silence us, the louder we will be."

-ABC News' Camilla Alcini


NYPD arrests 15 people for misdemeanor trespassing at Fordham University

After authorizing NYPD officers to move on the Fordham University to clear an "unlawful encampment" in a campus building on Wednesday, the institution said 15 individuals were arrested for misdemeanor trespassing.

In a statement Wednesday evening, Fordham University said several dozens of people pushed inside the lobby of the Lowenstein building and set up tents.

Most individuals left the encampment after "threats of conduct sanctions" but the remaining 15 people were arrested, according to the statement, which notes, "We believe some of those were Fordham students."

"We met with student leaders as recently as yesterday, readily agreeing to allow them to present their case about divestment and transparency to trustees and our chief investment officer," the university said, adding, "We remain committed to that process."


Why LAPD did not intervene in violent UCLA protests sooner: Sources

The LAPD and California Highway Patrol are facing backlash over not intervening in the UCLA protests sooner, as violence broke out overnight, however, law enforcement sources told ABC News the hesitancy came from jurisdiction over the campus.

The LAPD and CHP don’t have jurisdiction over UCLA and cannot unilaterally race in because UCLA has its own full-fledged police department and dispatch center, sources said.

The delay, as described by sources, was due to UCLA and its police department not authorizing a response.

UCLA’s limited police force was overwhelmed and tried to deal with the protest internally, according to sources, until the call to the LAPD and CHP was eventually made.

The protests led to 15 injuries, including one hospitalization, according to officials.

-ABC News' Alex Stone


'These were not peaceful protesters': Columbia official addresses 202 arrests

In a press briefing Wednesday, Ben Chang, a Columbia University spokesperson, addressed the over 200 arrests made Tuesday evening, stemming from the ongoing protests.

The NYPD confirmed that the arrests from last night numbered 202, with 109 being from Columbia University.

"These were not peaceful protesters," Chang said. "I surveyed the damage myself, and as the president has indicated, severe damage was inflicted on that building."

In response to the disruptions, Chang said the university leadership, backed by the trustees, decided to call in the NYPD to help restore order.

Academic activities at Columbia will continue remotely for the remainder of the semester, according to Chang, who noted, the university is making adjustments to ensure that final exams and assessments proceed smoothly.

-ABC News’ Jason Volack


UCLA issues evacuation order as police confront protesters

UCLA officials issued an evacuation order for all protesters in the area of Royce Quad, saying the encampment was "unlawful."

Smoke billowed around law enforcement officials as they began breaking through the barricades on the campus encampment. It was not immediately clear whether the smoke had been dispersed by the police or the protesters.

The encampment in Dickson Plaza, along with all unauthorized tents and structures, had been declared "unlawful," campus public safety officials said in an alert.

"The University requires that everyone must leave the encampment and adjacent areas, as well as all unauthorized structures and tents immediately, until further notice," the alert said.

-ABC News’ Amanda Morris and Kevin Shalvey