As the two-week confrontation between pro-Palestine demonstrators and university administrators at Columbia University in New York came to a head on Tuesday, officials on Wednesday patiently awaited to see if the fallout would spark more protests on college campuses across the country or put an end to a growing movement.
The Student Spring protests are the largest and longest prolonged since the Vietnam War rallies in the 1960s and 1970s.
An encampment at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire was destroyed by police late Wednesday, barely hours after pro-Palestinian activists set up a few tents. According to local media sources, officers arrested a number of people, including at least one professor.
Officials at Portland State University in Oregon reported police had moved into campus Wednesday evening as protestors continued to seize a library.
The institution issued an alert on social media site X, stating: “POLICE ACTIVITY at SOUTH PARK BLOCKS,” where the campus is located. The post also advised individuals to avoid the university area.
Before police came on campus, University President Ann Cudd issued a written statement stating that classes would resume on Thursday.
On Wednesday evening, announcements were broadcast on the University of California Los Angeles campus, warning demonstrators to disperse or face arrest and a misdemeanor.
The protesters generally remained in position, screaming pro-Palestine slogans. UCLA announced on X that campus activities would be curtailed on Thursday and Friday, with all classes transitioning to remote instruction. The post encouraged individuals to continue to avoid campus and the Royce Quad area.
On Wednesday, hundreds more pro-Palestine protestors, including students and alumni, gathered on the UCLA campus steps beyond the encampment as law officers increased their presence.
Also Read: Police Detain 100 Demonstrators as Pro-Palestine Camp is Dismantled at a US University
