UConn police arrest protesters refusing to vacate encampments

STORRS, Conn. (WTNH ) – University of Connecticut Police arrested 25 protesters Tuesday morning refused to vacate unauthorized encampments.

According to a spokesperson for UConn, the university shared protesting guidelines on Apr. 26 with organizers and the university community. Since then, gatherings on campus have violated guidelines with protesters putting up tents.

The group was asked multiple times to follow the guidelines by campus officials, but they were ignored, according to a UConn spokesperson. UConn Police then entered the site to remove the tents and tarps, and to arrest those who refused compliance.

“What I don’t think anyone expected was for them to send over a 134 officers to arrest just 20 students,” said Muneeb Syed, a junior who is the President of the Muslim Student Association at UConn.

The video below is from News 8 at 6 p.m. on April 30.

The people who were arrested have been charged with first-degree criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, according to police documents.

One by one, those released by UConn police were met by cheers and hugs from other protesters who left the courtyard where they had gathered since last week.

“I’m heartbroken,” said Melanie Newport, an associate professor of history at UConn. “I think it’s a betrayal of the trust our students put in us to maintain an environment where we can have a free exchange of ideas.”

Elias, a Jewish graduate student who asked for his last name to not be used, pointed out that UConn has previously allowed students to camp out for basketball games.

He said he supports the protesters’ right to be heard.

“I think it’s really important that the students have a voice and are able to stand up to the ongoing genocide, the crimes against humanity,” he said.

Syed said that tents aren’t a problem.

“They’re not hurting anybody, but it is telling the university, ‘Look, we’re here to stay, and we believe in what we’re saying,” he said.

The protesters said the effort has allowed people who didn’t know each other to come together for a cause. They’re hoping to keep that momentum going in whatever form it takes.

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