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.


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NYU students set up new encampment days after over 130 students, faculty arrested

New York University students set up a new pro-Palestinian encampment Friday, after over 130 students and faculty were arrested at an encampment earlier this week.

The protesters are calling on the university to divest and cut ties with Israel and companies profit from its onslaught on Gaza — including shutting down the NYU Tel Aviv campus and a boycott of Tel Aviv University. They are also calling for full amnesty for pro-Palestinian activism and for IOF-trained cops to leave campus.

"Despite the violent repression students have face, we will not back down. We have no reason to fear when Palestinians demonstrate their courage and resiliency in the face of far greater danger. Our fear has turned into resolve," the NYU Palestine Solidarity Coalition said in a statement Saturday.

Protesters say they were removed and arrests were made at a "100% peaceful" protest earlier this week, refuting the university's allegation that there was "antagonizing behavior" and a security breach caused it to invite New York police onto campus and make arrests, a representative for the NYU PSC told ABC News.

Protesters say they calmly entered the encampment after the university did not follow through on providing a timeline of when they would allow more students into the plaza, according to the student who was at the protest outside the encampment, but was not arrested.

Police started making arrests Monday after Muslim protesters began Maghreb prayer -- a daily Muslim prayer made during the sunset hour -- according to the student.

"Our peaceful protest was met with complete and utter violence green lighted by our university president and her administration," the student, who asked that ABC News conceal their identity for safety, said.

The university pushed back against the protester's account, saying "there is no right to create encampments of tents on the University's property."

"Despite repeatedly being told no additional protesters would be permitted on the plaza - early on Monday afternoon protesters on West 4th Street breached the barricades we had set up, nearly doubling the number of people on the plaza, with hundreds of additional demonstrators in the street," NYU said in a statement to ABC News.

"Those on the plaza urged them onwards and that Campus Safety Officers were shoved and forced out of the way by people attempting to gain entry to the plaza," NYU said.

-ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab


Columbia's University Senate calls for investigation into administration

The Columbia University Senate is set to establish a task force to investigate the school's administration after their actions, or lack thereof, have divided the university community, the University Senate announced Friday.

The senate alleges the university jeopardized academic freedom by threatening "faculty job security," breached privacy and due process by disregarding "privacy and due process rights of individual students and faculty members."

The Senate also accuses the university of creating a violation of shared governance principles.

"The decision by the University administration to call for police intervention on campus, after the Senate Executive Committee told the administration that the Executive Committee did 'not approve the presence of NYPD on our campus at this time,' has raised serious concerns about the administration’s respect for shared governance and transparency in the University’s decision-making process," the statement read.

Actions by the university and its administration showed "little respect for clearly established protocols," the Senate said.


Cal Poly Humboldt campus closed through end of semester amid protests

California State Polytechnic University's Humboldt campus will be closed through the end of the semester amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests, the university said Friday.

The campus will be closed through May 10, with remote academic instruction instead, due to the occupation of its Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East buildings, the university said.

"Since Monday night, protestors have attempted several times to break into multiple locked buildings with the intention of either locking themselves in, vandalizing, or stealing equipment," the university said in a message to the school community. "Vandalism and theft have continued across campus."

The university said protesters -- including students and non-students -- have until 4 p.m. PT Friday to leave the buildings peacefully "with a guarantee of no immediate arrest."

"This does not, however, eliminate University conduct-related sanctions or legal implications," the university added.


Arizona state turns on sprinklers to deter pro-Palestinian protesters

Videos online show sprinklers were turned on where Arizona State University students set up a pro-Palestinian encampment, demanding that the university divest. Students set up their encampment on Friday.

Videos show protesters putting bags and items on top of the sprinklers to stop them from spraying.

More videos show tense interactions between students and ASU police responding to the scene. At least three individuals are seen being arrested, Phoenix ABC affiliate KNXV reported.


USC temporarily closes main campus due to 'disruption,' LAPD issues alert

The University of Southern California closed its main campus Saturday evening "due to a disturbance," the university said on X.

Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert due to a protest on USC's campus, urging people to avoid the area.

A tactical alert allows LAPD to keep officers on past their shifts and to move officers between divisions if they need extra staffing in one area of the city.