WASHINGTON: Washington police on Wednesday cleared an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at George Washington University, authorities said, making several pre-dawn arrests and using pepper spray, the student-run GW Hatchet newspaper and CNN reported. The operation took place just after 4:00 am (0800), with around three dozen persons reportedly detained.
The encampment, which had been in place for over a week, drew attention as Washington, DC’s mayor and police chief were slated to testify before Congress later in the day regarding the prolonged presence of the protest site. Authorities had faced mounting pressure to address the situation, which had sparked concerns about public safety and disruption to university activities.
In a statement, the police department acknowledged efforts to deescalate tensions prior to the intervention, but cited a “gradual escalation in the volatility of the protest” as justification for the arrests.
The clearing of the encampment comes amidst a wave of campus protests across the United States, with students voicing solidarity with Palestinians and calling for divestment from US weapons manufacturers and Israeli institutions. Columbia University, where demonstrations have been particularly intense, recently canceled its main graduation ceremony due to security concerns following the arrests of over 100 pro-Palestinian protesters.
President Joe Biden during a speech at the Capitol on Tuesday condemned he described as a “ferocious surge” in anti-Semitic incidents. He emphasized the need to combat hate speech and violence, asserting that there is no place for such behavior on American campuses or elsewhere.
Biden’s administration has faced challenges in balancing concerns over free speech with efforts to address intimidation and discrimination. Critics argue that attempts to suppress criticism of Israel risk stifling legitimate discourse, while supporters of the protests maintain that they are exercising their rights to peaceful assembly and expression.
