College protests updates: Police crackdown leads to hundreds of arrests
Hundreds were arrested at USC, Emerson and UT Austin in the last day.
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:
- Arizona State University arrests 69 people, clears pro-Palestinian encampment
- Northeastern University detains 100 protesters, removes encampment
- NYU students set up new encampment days after over 130 students, faculty arrested
- Students arrested, charged with trespass at Ohio State University
- DPS says they used a Taser, pepper balls at Emory, but not tear gas
Person tased by police at Emory protest not affiliated with school: Administrator
Cheryl Elliott, Emory University's vice president for public safety, provided an update to the school community on the incident that took place between police and pro-Palestinian protesters.
Elliot addressed the viral video of officers using a stun gun on one of the protesters when the encampment was dispersed and said the person in the video did not appear to be affiliated with Emory.
"Based on current information, this individual is not a member of the Emory community," Elliot said.
Elliot said, "Due to the direct assault of officers, law enforcement released chemical irritants into the ground to assist with crowd control."
Twenty-eight people were arrested during the incident, 20 of whom were affiliated with the university, according to Elliot.
"We are working with responding agencies to expedite the release of any Emory community members who remain in custody," she said in her letter to the Emory community.
-ABC News' Cherise Rudy
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.
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.
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.
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."
At least 34 arrested at UT Austin
At least 34 people had been arrested at the University of Texas at Austin as of 9 p.m. local time, according to the Texas Department of Safety.
"Today, our University held firm, enforcing our rules while protecting the Constitutional right to free speech. Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable," University President Jay Hartzell said in a statement Wednesday evening.
"Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others’ ability to learn are not allowed. The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced. Our University will not be occupied."
"There is a way to exercise freedom of speech and civil discourse, and our Office of the Dean of Students has continued to offer ways to ensure protests can happen within the rules," Hartzell continued.
The dispersal order ended shortly after 9 p.m. and the campus was deemed "all clear," Austin Police said on X.