by Robert Schmad
Most of the people arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) while clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University (GWU) were not students, DC Police Chief Pamela Smith said Thursday.
The police started clearing camp at GWU in the early morning hours Wednesday, after nearly two weeks of protests occupying the campus. MPD arrested 33 people, including 11 students of the university, DC Police Chief Pamela Smith he said FOX 5 Washington on Thursday.
“As we continued to observe [the encampment] we observed an escalation of some activity… and when we realized we had enough intelligence and information to begin clearing the camp, we made that decision,” Smith said.
MPD Deputy Communications Director Paris Lewbel confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation that “11 of those arrested identified themselves as George Washington University students.”
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser was ready for it witness on Wednesday before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, but it was canceled after MPD cleared the camp.
MPD will treat future pro-Palestinian protests like “any other protest or demonstration,” ensuring they “protect those who choose to exercise their First Amendment rights,” Smith said.
Other universities also report that outsiders participated in pro-Palestinian protests.
“Watching well-organized outside protesters arrive on campus in vans, build an encampment and occupy the plaza just days after it was vandalized with hateful and threatening messages was deeply disturbing,” Greg Fenves, president of Emory University he said April 26.
University of Washington in St. Louis reported that on April 27, 100 people were arrested during a campus demonstration, of which only 27 were associated with the university. Those arrested were charged with trespassing, and some of them were also charged with assault and resisting arrest.
George Washington University did not immediately respond to DCNF’s request for comment.
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Robert Schmad is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.
“Police arrest protester” photo by Beckera1999. CC BY 2.0.
