CHICAGO (AP) — Police removed a pro-Palestinian tent camp at the University of Chicago on Tuesday, as tensions rose in clashes with demonstrators on other college campuses across the United States — and increasingly in Europe.
The movement, launched by a protest at Columbia University in nearly three weeks, saw the Rhode Island School of Design negotiate with protesters occupying a building, and MIT. A new camp One site was destroyed but immediately taken back by demonstrators.
The clashes come as the campuses try a variety of strategies, from appeasement to threats of disciplinary action, to pave the way for and resolve protests against the Israel-Hamas war. Beginnings.
Pro-Palestinian protesters lock arms and clasp hands as officers block protesters from the university's quad as a student encampment is dismantled, Tuesday, May 7, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
At the University of Chicago, hundreds of protesters gathered in an area known as the Quad for at least eight days. Campus administrators on Friday warned them to leave the area or face removal.
Riot police blocked access to the Quad area early Tuesday morning as law enforcement cleared the camp. Officers then removed barricades that had been set up to keep protesters out of the Quad and moved it toward the demonstrators, some of whom chanted, « Arise, rise with freedom. » Down, down aggressively!” Police and protesters pushed barricades back and forth as authorities moved to regain control.
« Protesters were given an opportunity to dismantle their structures and leave the camp, and no arrests were made, » school president Paul Alivisatos said in a message to the university community. « If appropriate, disciplinary action will follow. »
By 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, the number of protesters had doubled to 200. After about 30 minutes, campus police removed a barricade and stepped aside to allow the protesters back into the Quad, where they gathered in front of Levi Hall, the campus administration. building.
At MIT, protesters were given a Monday afternoon deadline to voluntarily leave or face suspension. Many people left, according to an MIT spokeswoman, who said protesters scaled fences after demonstrators arrived from outside the university. On Monday night, dozens of protesters camped out in a quiet atmosphere, listening to speakers and chanting before taking a pizza break.
Sam Ihns, a graduate student studying mechanical engineering at MIT and a member of MIT Jews for a Ceasefire, said the group has been at the camp for two weeks and is calling for an end to the killing in Gaza.
« In particular, our camp opposes MIT's direct research ties with the Israeli Ministry of Defense, » he said.
An MIT spokesman said no arrests had been made as of Monday night.
At the Rhode Island School of Design, students began occupying a building Monday that a spokeswoman said the school affirms students' rights to free speech and peaceful assembly, and that it supports all members of its community. The RIST president and provost were meeting the protesters, the spokesperson said.
What to know on Tuesday
In Gaza: An Israeli tank brigade has seized control of the Gaza Strip on the Rafah border with Egypt, as Israel threatens to launch a wider offensive on the southern city, officials say. Follow live notifications.
Cessation Plan: Hamas said on Monday it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari ceasefire proposal, but Israel said the deal did not meet its main demands and was pushing ahead with plans to occupy the southern Gaza city of Rafah. However, Israel said it would continue negotiations. Here's what's on the table in the ceasefire talks.
Campuses: German police on Tuesday broke up a protest by several hundred pro-Palestinian activists. Free University of Berlin earlier in the day. And in the US, police dismantled a pro-Palestinian tent camp at the University of Chicago.
Students protested spread to Europe, Where they gain momentum. Police arrested about 125 activists on Tuesday when they broke up an encampment at Amsterdam University, and German police cleared an occupation at the Free University of Berlin. Students have also staged protests or encampments in Finland, Denmark, Italy, Spain, France and Britain.
Many protesters want their schools to divest from companies that do business with Israel or contribute to the war effort. Others want to draw attention to the deaths in Gaza and an end to the war.
At New York City's Columbia University, protests that began three weeks ago rocked its campus. Officials on Monday canceled its big main event, but said students will be able to celebrate in smaller, school-based events this week and next.
Columbia already canceled in-person classes. More than 200 pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched in Columbia's Green Or Occupies an academic building Arrested in recent weeks.
Similar camps have sprung up elsewhere, leading universities to struggle over where to go Draw the line Between allowing free expression while maintaining safe and inclusive campuses.
Formerly University of Southern California It canceled its main graduation ceremony. Students Abandoned their camp Sunday at USC surrounded by police and threatened with arrest. Other universities held convocations with tight security. University of Michigan On Saturday, chanting interrupted the ceremony a few times.
A group of faculty and staff at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has asked the administration to grant amnesty to student protesters who were recently arrested and suspended.
Harvard University's interim president, Alan Garber, warned that those camping at Harvard Yard could face « involuntary leave. »
At the University of California, San Diego, police cleared an encampment and arrested more than 64 people, including 40 students. The University of California, Los Angeles has moved classes online for the week following disruptions after a camp was dismantled last week, resulting in the reported arrest of 44 people.
Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza that killed 34,500 Palestinians, two-thirds of them women and children, according to the Health Ministry in the Hamas-ruled territory. Israeli attacks have devastated the enclave and displaced most of its population.
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LeBlanc reports from Cambridge, Massachusetts. Associated Press journalists from around the US and around the world contributed to this report, including Jeff Amy, Christopher Weber, Mike Carter, Barbara Surg, Rick Callahan and Pietro De Cristobaro.
