Police in the United States arrested at least 25 protesting students in support of Palestinians and dismantled a protest camp at the University of Virginia, according to a statement from the university. Meanwhile, other American universities braced for further protests and disruptions during graduation ceremonies. The University of Virginia in Charlottesville saw renewed tensions despite the protests being largely peaceful until Saturday morning. Footage showed police officers in riot gear entering the protest camp, restraining some protesters, and using what appeared to be chemical spray.
The University of Virginia stated in a press release that the protesters violated several of its policies by setting up tents on Friday evening and using loudspeakers. University President Jim Ryan noted in a message that "officials learned that individuals unaffiliated with the university, who raised some safety concerns, joined the protesters on campus." A group calling itself "University of Virginia Camp for Gaza" condemned the university's decision to call the police in a post on Instagram.
Chicago police reported on "X" that dozens were arrested for criminal trespassing outside the Art Institute during a protest on Saturday after the institute called the police to disperse protesters who they claimed were illegally occupying its grounds. Other confrontations did not lead to arrests at other universities. Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupted the beginning of the graduation ceremony at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Social media footage showed dozens of students wearing traditional Palestinian keffiyehs and graduation caps, waving Palestinian flags while walking down the middle aisle of Michigan Stadium, amidst cheers and boos from a crowd estimated in the thousands. The ceremony continued, and campus police escorted the protesters toward the back of the stadium, but no arrests were made, according to university spokesperson Collin Mastony.
Mastony stated, "Peaceful protests like this have occurred at University of Michigan graduation ceremonies for decades... The university supports freedom of opinion and expression, and the university leadership is pleased that today’s graduation ceremony was a moment of pride and triumph." Several universities, including Columbia University in New York City, have called the police to contain protests.
So far, police have arrested over 2,000 demonstrators from universities across the country. Students nationwide are rallying or setting up camps at dozens of universities to protest the ongoing war in Gaza and to urge President Joe Biden, who supports Israel, to take more action to stop the bloodshed there. They are also demanding their universities divest from companies that support the Israeli government, such as weapons supply companies.
