University of Texas at Austin police officers and state troopers in riot gear stormed in on Monday, removing a small number of tents set up on campus by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, arresting dozens of people and shouting “I Off our campus!'' and trying to stop law enforcement vehicles.
Within three hours, officers cleared the small encampment and arrested about 50 people, but were forced to confront an even larger crowd near the edge of the university's central shopping mall, where the tents had been set up.
After a brief confrontation, police backed off and allowed the crowd to return to the mall. Some students returned to what had been a fleeting encampment turned into a tangled pile of tarps, trash and folding tables.
The encampment and subsequent outpouring of support from large numbers of students is a direct challenge to both university leaders and Gov. Greg Abbott, who moved quickly last week to stamp out even larger gatherings at the state's flagship university. moved to More than 50 people were arrested.
Monday's operation doubled that number after police set up a cordon around the camp and moved in. Surrounding them, a large number of students and onlookers cheered in support of the demonstrators. Those arrested were seen resisting police by limping and pulling as they tried to clear the encampment.
“No encampments will be allowed,” Abbott said in a statement after the arrests began. “Instead, some people have been arrested.”
The university suggested those who gathered Monday were more threatening than other groups of protesters who gathered on campus to oppose Israel's war in Gaza, including those arrested last week.
University spokesman Brian Davis said organizers of Monday's protest had made threats online over the weekend. On Monday, he said, protesters “physically engaged and verbally assaulted the Dean of Students staff as they attempted to confiscate” the tent. He added that “baseball-sized stones” were found “strategically placed within the encampment.”
The latest protest began just after noon on Monday, the last school day of the school year before finals. The start date is May 11th.
The group of protesters, which included students and people not affiliated with the university, erected about six tents on the university's South Mall, campus officials said.
The campus police department issued an order to disperse the encampment almost immediately after it was set up. Deputy Chief Shane Streepy said in a message to the campus that if protesters do not leave, they will be arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, rioting, trespassing and obstructing passage. .
Shortly after, dozens of state troopers in riot gear arrived, leading to an incident similar to what happened last Wednesday. After the previous arrests, the university said it acted quickly to prevent tents and other occupations on campus.
“It all comes back to the rules. We enforce the rules,” Mike Rosen, assistant vice president for communications, said in a phone interview. “As the president says, our rules matter.”
He added: “We've seen what happens at other universities when they don't enforce the rules.”
Excessive heat contributed to Monday's protests, with several people appearing to be suffering being carried away. In one instance, police prevented supporters from throwing water into an encampment.
Katherine Roland, a second-year psychology major, was not at the camp, but came to support the camp when she heard the order to disband. She called the police response “disgusting.” “We pay high tuition fees to go here, but our rights are being violated,” she added.
Other students supported the protests but seemed tired of the disruption on campus.
“To be honest, I think the situation is unfortunate,” said Julia Mayhua Pezo, a third-year biochemistry student. “It's really gratifying to see people fight for what they believe in,” she said. “But it's getting crowded. Walking to class can be uncomfortable, and many streets are closed to traffic.”
About three hours after the first tents appeared, the encampment disappeared.
However, by evening the students were back on the lawn and walking around. Some chanted slogans supporting the Palestinian cause. Nearby, police made additional arrests of protesters who tried to block a vehicle carrying the people who had been arrested earlier.