College protests live updates: Police crack down as encampments spread

Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.

The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests .

Latest Developments

_{Apr 27, 2:51 PM}

Arizona State University arrests 69 people, clears pro-Palestinian encampment

Arizona State University announced that campus police have arrested 69 people for trespassing after protesters refused to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment that the university says was "unauthorized."

"Encampments are prohibited on Arizona State University property. Lawful demonstrations can take place except overnight between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.," ASU said in a statement.

"A group of people – most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff – created an encampment and demonstration that continued until 11 p.m. when the group was instructed multiple times to disperse. Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass," ASU said.

_{Apr 27, 1:30 PM}

Northeastern University detains 100 protesters, removes encampment

Northeastern University has removed an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters, with police detaining about 100 people. The university says students who produced valid Northeastern ID were released and will face disciplinary proceedings within the university.

"Earlier this morning the Northeastern University Police Department -- in cooperation with local law enforcement partners - began clearing an unauthorized encampment on the university's Boston campus. What began as a student demonstration two days ago was infiltrated by professional organizers with no affiliation to Northeastern. Last night, the use of virulent antisemitic slurs including "Kill the Jews," crossed the line. We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus," the university said in a statement.

The university added, "As part of clearing the site, approximately 100 individuals were detained by police. Students who produced valid Northeastern ID were released. They will face disciplinary proceedings within the university, not legal action. Those who refused to disclose their affiliation were arrested."

Massachusetts State Police said they responded to Northeastern's request for assistance removing protesters.

"Officers directed protesters to disperse and MSP members assisted in removing protesters who refused to leave. Approximately 102 protesters who refused to comply with orders to disperse were arrested and will be charged by NUPD with trespassing and disorderly conduct. They are being transported to the Suffolk County House of Correction to be booked and processed," MSP said in a statement.

_{Apr 27, 11:52 AM}

NYU students set up new encampment days after over 130 students, faculty arrested

New York University students set up a new pro-Palestinian encampment Friday, after over 130 students and faculty were arrested at an encampment earlier this week.

The protesters are calling on the university to divest and cut ties with Israel and companies profit from its onslaught on Gaza — including shutting down the NYU Tel Aviv campus and a boycott of Tel Aviv University. They are also calling for full amnesty for pro-Palestinian activism and for IOF-trained cops to leave campus.

"Despite the violent repression students have face, we will not back down. We have no reason to fear when Palestinians demonstrate their courage and resiliency in the face of far greater danger. Our fear has turned into resolve," the NYU Palestine Solidarity Coalition said in a statement Saturday.

Protesters say they were removed and arrests were made at a "100% peaceful" protest earlier this week, refuting the university's allegation that there was "antagonizing behavior" and a security breach caused it to invite New York police onto campus and make arrests, a representative for the NYU PSC told ABC News.

Protesters say they calmly entered the encampment after the university did not follow through on providing a timeline of when they would allow more students into the plaza, according to the student who was at the protest outside the encampment, but was not arrested.

Police started making arrests Monday after Muslim protesters began Maghreb prayer -- a daily Muslim prayer made during the sunset hour -- according to the student.

"Our peaceful protest was met with complete and utter violence green lighted by our university president and her administration," the student, who asked that ABC News conceal their identity for safety, said.

The university pushed back against the protester's account, saying "there is no right to create encampments of tents on the University's property."

"Despite repeatedly being told no additional protesters would be permitted on the plaza - early on Monday afternoon protesters on West 4th Street breached the barricades we had set up, nearly doubling the number of people on the plaza, with hundreds of additional demonstrators in the street," NYU said in a statement to ABC News.

"Those on the plaza urged them onwards and that Campus Safety Officers were shoved and forced out of the way by people attempting to gain entry to the plaza," NYU said.

-ABC News' Nadine El-Bawab

_{Apr 26, 11:17 PM}

Columbia's University Senate calls for investigation into administration

The Columbia University Senate is set to establish a task force to investigate the school's administration after their actions, or lack thereof, have divided the university community, the University Senate announced Friday.

The senate alleges the university jeopardized academic freedom by threatening "faculty job security," breached privacy and due process by disregarding "privacy and due process rights of individual students and faculty members."

The Senate also accuses the university of creating a violation of shared governance principles.

"The decision by the University administration to call for police intervention on campus, after the Senate Executive Committee told the administration that the Executive Committee did 'not approve the presence of NYPD on our campus at this time,' has raised serious concerns about the administration’s respect for shared governance and transparency in the University’s decision-making process," the statement read.

Actions by the university and its administration showed "little respect for clearly established protocols," the Senate said.

_{Apr 26, 7:11 PM}

Cal Poly Humboldt campus closed through end of semester amid protests

California State Polytechnic University's Humboldt campus will be closed through the end of the semester amid ongoing pro-Palestinian protests, the university said Friday.

The campus will be closed through May 10, with remote academic instruction instead, due to the occupation of its Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East buildings, the university said.

"Since Monday night, protestors have attempted several times to break into multiple locked buildings with the intention of either locking themselves in, vandalizing, or stealing equipment," the university said in a message to the school community. "Vandalism and theft have continued across campus."

The university said protesters -- including students and non-students -- have until 4 p.m. PT Friday to leave the buildings peacefully "with a guarantee of no immediate arrest."

"This does not, however, eliminate University conduct-related sanctions or legal implications," the university added.

_{Apr 26, 4:08 PM}

Arizona state turns on sprinklers to deter pro-Palestinian protesters

Videos online show sprinklers were turned on where Arizona State University students set up a pro-Palestinian encampment, demanding that the university divest. Students set up their encampment on Friday.

Videos show protesters putting bags and items on top of the sprinklers to stop them from spraying.

More videos show tense interactions between students and ASU police responding to the scene. At least three individuals are seen being arrested, Phoenix ABC affiliate KNXV reported.

_{Apr 26, 3:07 PM}

Columbia University negotiator says 5 p.m. not a hard deadline

The lead student negotiator with a Columbia University student group organizing the encampment says there is no longer a "deadline" for them to leave, but more of a "timeline."

The group -- Columbia University Apartheid Divest group -- says negotiations with the university remain ongoing and another decision will be made at 5 p.m.

"We have until 5 p.m. to come up with a plan," the Columbia student negotiator said.

-ABC News' Stephanie Ramos

_{Apr 26, 1:53 PM}

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez visits Columbia University protesters

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., visited student protesters at Columbia University Friday.

Hundreds of counterprotesters also gathered near Columbia's campus on Friday morning waving Israeli flags and calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Ocasio-Cortez has criticized the university's decision to arrest students.

"Not only did Columbia make the horrific decision to mobilize NYPD on their own students, but the units called in have some of the most violent reputations on the force. NYPD had promised the city they wouldn’t deploy SRG to protests. So why are these counterterror units here?" Ocasio-Cortez said on X Wednesday.

In another post, she called the arrests a "dangerous" act.

"Calling in police enforcement on nonviolent demonstrations of young students on campus is an escalatory, reckless, and dangerous act. It represents a heinous failure of leadership that puts people’s lives at risk. I condemn it in the strongest possible terms," Ocasio-Cortez said on X .

_{Apr 26, 9:07 AM}

Students arrested, charged with trespass at Ohio State University

Students were arrested and charged with trespass at Ohio State University after refusing to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment late Thursday.

"Well established university rules prohibit camping and overnight events. Demonstrators exercised their first amendment rights for several hours and were then instructed to disperse. Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass," the university said in a statement to ABC News.

Videos show protesters chanting and tussling with officers outside the Ohio State University student union building. In another video, police can be heard issuing a loudspeaker warning to a dispersing crowd at OSU as a helicopter flies overhead.

Another video shows an officer tackling someone to the ground as other officers force people back and another person falls to the ground.

-ABC News' Matthew Holroyd and Ahmad Hemingway

_{Apr 26, 12:52 AM}

Columbia University says talks with protesters 'remain ongoing'

Columbia University sent a message to the community late Thursday night, saying discussions with student protesters are "ongoing."

"The talks have shown progress and are continuing as planned," Columbia said in its message.

"For several days, a small group of faculty, administrators, and University Senators have been in dialogue with student organizers to discuss the basis for dismantling the encampment, dispersing, and following University policies going forward," the message continued. "We have our demands; they have theirs. A formal process is underway and continues."

-ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway

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