Police in the U.S. capital of Washington cleared a pro-Palestinian protest camp at George Washington University early Wednesday (May 8), arresting 33 people, authorities said.
The District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department said the arrests were made because of an assault on an officer and trespassing.
A congressional committee canceled a hearing on the university protest camp Wednesday. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith were scheduled to testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability about the city’s handling of the protests .
On Wednesday afternoon, George Washington University parents and faculty gathered for a press conference to condemn the handling of the protests by police and school leaders.
Hala Amer said, “This university clearly does not value its students at all, and endangered the safety of our children by sending heavily armed police officers to attack our children and pepper spray them in the eyes.” His son participated in these campus protests.
Police said they dispersed the demonstrators because “the protests were becoming more and more volatile.”
Barbara Wien, a professor at American University, said she stayed at the camp with students from George Washington University. She described the student protesters as democratic and peaceful.
Police began shutting down the tent camps Tuesday night after dozens of protesters marched to the on-campus home of George Washington University President Ellen Granberg. Police were called, but no arrests were made.
Speakers at the news conference called for Granberg’s resignation after they claimed she refused to meet and negotiate with student protesters.
“You keep inciting violence and ignoring the students,” Amell said of Granberg in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) after the conference. “That only leads to more violence. You need to talk to your students.”
George Washington University administrators warned students that they could be suspended for protesting in the school’s University Courtyard – an outdoor space on campus.
A statement from George Washington University said, “While the university is committed to protecting students’ rights to free speech, the encampment has evolved into an unlawful activity, and participants are in direct violation of several university policies and city ordinances.”
More than 2,600 people have been arrested at universities across the country in connection with pro-Palestinian protests.
Students have called on university administrations to divest from Israel or companies linked to Israel. Since April 17, demonstrators have gathered on at least 50 campuses carrying signs reading “Free Palestine” and “Free Rafah.”
Rafah is the southernmost city in Gaza, where most of the region’s population is concentrated. The area also serves as a corridor for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territories.
Israel occupied the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing on Tuesday, while closing the nearby Kerem Shalom crossing, drawing criticism from humanitarian organizations. Israel said Wednesday it had reopened Kerem Shalom.
The nationwide campus protests were in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
