Protests at times turned violent between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israel supporters at various campuses across the US overnight.
Approximately 300 people were arrested by the New York Police Department on the Columbia University and City College campuses. New York Mayor Eric Adams said the entry at Hamilton Hall in Columbia was led by people “who are not affiliated with the university.” Those arrested are facing charges from trespassing to criminal mischief.
Columbia is holding final exams but going fully remote for any exams on the university’s main campus, according to a letter sent to students.
At the University of California, Los Angeles, the school’s student newspaper published an editorial on Wednesday morning accusing the school of failing to protect students as violence escalated on the campus. An editor for the Daily Bruin told CNN she has heard reports of pipes, Tasers and pepper spray being used during the confrontation.
Classes have been canceled Wednesday at UCLA following the violence.
Here’s what has been happening at other campuses across the US:
- University of Arizona: Police deployed “chemical irritant munitions” and urged residents to avoid the area as protests continue on campus, according to posts on X by the university’s police department.
- University of Wisconsin-Madison: At least 12 people were arrested as police moved in, tearing down tents at the encampment on this campus. According to the university, the encampment at the Madison campus violates school policy and a state law. Tents appear to be back up again, as police left the premises.
- Tulane University: Some classes scheduled on Wednesday at Tulane University in New Orleans will be conducted remotely as “the unlawful demonstration continues” on campus, according to a statement from university officials. The university added that 14 people were arrested at the campus, and the encampment there has now been removed.
- Cal Poly Humboldt: California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in Arcata announced it will hold a modified in-person commencement on May 11 after law enforcement regained control of two buildings early Tuesday following a multi-day occupation that prompted a campus lockdown.
- University of South Florida: Police and supporting law enforcement agencies dispersed an on-campus protest Tuesday, with 10 people taken into custody.
- University of Georgia: The University of Georgia Police Department arrested 16 people during a pro-Palestine protest on Monday, according to a police report. The majority of those arrested were students, with nine students taken into custody and seven people listed as visitors, according to the report. All 16 were charged with criminal trespassing, the report said.
Here are some other headlines you should know about:
- Johnson slams protests: House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed pro-Palestinian protesters on Columbia University’s campus as “common criminals,” reiterating calls for the Ivy League institution’s president to step down.
- NYPD says it has intel: New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the New York Police Department’s intelligence division obtained sensitive information about outside individuals being inside Columbia University’s campus protests. “There are people that we have been watching in organizations that are not part of the campus,” Adams said.
- Columbia president speaks: Columbia University President Minouche Shafik addressed the campus community in a letter released Wednesday, after police had cleared the school grounds of protests, noting that the “drastic escalation” of protests “pushed the University to the brink.”
- Israel’s UN ambassador slams protests: Gilad Erdan denounced the pro-Palestinian student demonstrations in a speech at the General Assembly on Wednesday. Erdan accused campus demonstrations of being made up of “antisemitic protestors affiliated with outside agitators” and said there should be expulsions of students involved.
