Philadelphia police, clad in riot gear, cleared an encampment set up by anti-Israel protesters at the University of Pennsylvania on Friday, May 10. The operation resulted in the removal and arrest of over 30 pro-Palestinian demonstrators after 16 days of continuous protests on campus.
The police, equipped in tactical gear, gave the protesters a two-minute warning around 6 am before dismantling their tents.
According to reports, around 30 minutes after the police intervention, most protesters either dispersed or were taken into custody. However, nearly three dozen students remained near the Ben Franklin statue on campus.
Despite their efforts to resist by linking arms and chanting, they were eventually removed by authorities without any violent incidents.
Rishi, one of the students involved in the protest, expressed their determination to remain on-site, stating, “Our plan is to stay here and escalate. We’re not leaving.” He emphasized that the encampment had not caused harm to any students.
A spokesperson for the University of Pennsylvania revealed details about the arrests, stating, “At approximately 5:30 am this morning, Penn Police, with support from the Philadelphia Police Department, took steps to remove the unauthorized encampment on College Green.”
The spokesperson further explained that the protesters had been warned multiple times about trespassing and given the option to leave voluntarily to avoid citation.
Following the dispersal of the encampment, the University of Pennsylvania issued a statement announcing mandatory temporary leaves of absence for six students. With pending the results of disciplinary investigations by the Center for Community Standards and Accountability.
The university clarified that these actions were part of their response to the encampment and rejected the portrayal of the students involved in the Gaza Solidarity Encampment as “exceptional threats” to campus safety.
The dismantling of the anti-Israel encampment marks the end of a prolonged demonstration at the University of Pennsylvania campus. This had drawn attention and sparked discussions about free speech, campus safety, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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