3 weeks ago
Pro-Palestinian protesters show astatine Columbia University successful New York connected Monday. On Wednesday, dozens were arrested astatine nan campuses of University of Southern California successful Los Angeles and nan University of Texas successful Austin. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
April 25 (UPI) -- Dozens of demonstrators participating successful pro-Palestine protests astatine assemblage campuses passim nan state were arrested Wednesday evening, arsenic schools struggle to incorporate increasing anger complete nan Israel-Hamas war.
At slightest 34 arrests were made arsenic of 9 p.m. section clip astatine nan University of Texas, Austin campus, while an unconfirmed number of arrests were made during a protestation astatine nan University of Southern California successful Los Angeles.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that nan arrests were made astatine nan petition for assistance by UT and astatine nan guidance of Gov. Greg Abbott, stating it was to forestall unlawful assembly and successful support of UT constabulary successful support nan pace.
"These protesters beryllium successful jail," Abbott said connected X. "Anti-Semitism will not beryllium tolerated successful Texas. Period. Students joining nan hate-filled, anti-Semitic protests astatine immoderate nationalist assemblage aliases assemblage successful Texas should beryllium expelled."
The protestation seemingly began pinch hundreds of students participating successful a walkout organized by nan section Palestine Solidarity Committee, which responded to nan arrests by accusing nan assemblage and Abbott of violating their First Amendment rights.
"Through this unprecedented enactment of repression, they person made it explicitly clear: advocating against a genocide is criminal successful Austin!" nan group said.
Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, an Austin City assembly member, likewise chastised nan constabulary consequence to nan student-led protests, demanding answers for why "such flagrant and wasteful show of unit was authorized" and if immoderate protesters had their First Amendment authorities violated.
"This is Greg Abbott's Texas -- if you don't autumn successful statement pinch his agenda, your authorities are violated," he said successful a statement.
USC President Jay Hartzell issued a connection defending their response, saying nan assemblage held patient and enforced its rules while protecting nan law correct to free speech.
"Peaceful protests wrong our rules are acceptable. Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others' expertise to study are not allowed," he said. "The group that led this protestation stated it was going to break Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will beryllium enforced. Our University will not beryllium occupied."
He continued that group not affiliated pinch USC had participated successful nan protestation -- a communal rumor schools person mentioned successful narration to their demonstrations. He said galore of them ignored officials' pleas for restraint and to disperse.
"The University did arsenic we said we would do successful nan look of prohibited actions," he said.
In California, an unconfirmed number of demonstrators were arrested astatine USC, arsenic nan protestation forced officials to unopen down nan campus.
It was unclear really galore arrests had been made astatine USC, but nan protestation organizer USC Divest From Death Coalition said much than 50 group had been detained.
USC Divest From Death Coalition had organized an business of USC's Alumni Park starting from Wednesday greeting pinch demands that nan assemblage afloat disclose and divest its finances and endowment from companies and institutions that profit from "Israeli apartheid, genocide and business successful Palestine," including nan U.S. military, it said successful a property release.
Other demands included a complete world boycott of Israel and releasing a nationalist connection calling for a ceasefire successful Gaza, among others.
The Los Angeles Police Department has confirmed that arrests would beryllium made for trespassing and said resources were connected field astatine nan petition of USC.
USC said LAPD was clearing nan halfway of campus, while informing those who don't disperse will beryllium arrested.
The assemblage earlier said location was "significant activity" astatine nan halfway of field owed to a demonstration. The school's gates had been closed, and students coming to field should beryllium prepared to show ID.
The arrests and demonstrations travel arsenic respective universities person acquisition akin situations.
A number aliases protesters were arrested astatine New York University connected Monday, erstwhile dozens were besides detained astatine Yale University successful Connecticut.
Last week, much than 100 were arrested astatine Columbia University successful Manhattan.
