Protests continue as encampments continue to grow across the country

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The wave of pro-Palestinian protests at universities across the country is continuing to grow.

At Brown University, it marks day three of the encampment protests, and also the third time in the

academic year demonstrators have made national headlines as hundreds of students remain in tents on the campus green.

Yesterday, Brown identified 130 students who alleges violated a school conduct code that forbids encampments on campus.

According to the university, students found responsible will be disciplined depending on their behavior and other factors, including any prior conduct violations. Also yesterday, Brown’s community council approved two votes asking University President Christina Hull Paxson to drop the charges against 41 students arrested back in December, and allow students to present a discussion about divesting from certain causes at a corporation meeting next month.

A spokesperson for Gaza solidarity encampment told ABC6: 

“Now it’s non-binding resolutions from an advisory committee to the president, so we’re not sure if those will be enforced. It doesn’t meet our demands, but that does mean that the official community council of Brown, which is meant to represent both student opinion, alumni opinion, you know residents of Providence’s opinion and you know faculty and staff has voted to pass both of our demands.”

Protesters do say they will remain on campus until either their demands are met, or the university removes them. Arrests are unlikely to happen, but there is a possibility of suspensions or even expulsions.

In Boston:

More than 100 people were arrested at Emerson College. It happened early Thursday night when police removed the encampment that was set up in Boylston Place. Four officers were injured, and one suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries as students and officers clashed following the removal of the encampment. Video from the scene showed dozens of officers at Emerson, many who were wearing protective gear.

A group of students are now protesting the arrests outside of the Boston Police Department. Students are also calling on the President of the school, Jay Bernhardt, to resign, due to his unwillingness to communicate with protestors.

According to Sgt. John Boyle, 108 people are expected to be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court, and hearings are expected to be held on May 1, or May 8.

Also in Boston, Northeastern University had also started their own encampment, calling for a cease fire in Gaza and for the university to cut financial ties with Israel. Police did respond to the protest, but no arrests were made. Other universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Tufts University, and Harvard University are participating.

In New York:

At Columbia University, the faculty’s senate is expected to vote on a resolution to admonish the school’s president Nemat “Minouche” Shafik , as some students, faculty and lawmakers are upset the president authorized the New York Police Department to shut down the protest. According to the New York Times, there were several un-named senators who attended a closed-door meeting Wednesday.

At the same time, other students, religious groups, and lawmakers say that Columbia’s administration has failed to stop anti-Semitism.

The university does report that negotiations have begun between administrators and pro-Palestinian protestors over what needs to happen in order to dismantle the encampment.

In California and Georgia: 

More than 100 people at The University of Southern California have been arrested following protest. The university has cancelled its commencement ceremony, citing safety measures in place. At Emory University, 30 people and two professors were arrested after police deployed pepper balls after they say the crowd became disorderly.