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Police authorities have arrested 25 people at the University of Virginia as Pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. universities turned contentious over the weekend as clashes erupted between demonstrators and law enforcement.
At the University of Virginia, what began as a peaceful demonstration on Tuesday outside the school chapel escalated into a standoff between protesters and police by Saturday.
Video footage from WVAW-TV captured the scene as police, donning heavy gear and shields, lined up on the campus in Charlottesville. Chanting “Free Palestine,” the protesters faced off against the authorities, leading university police to declare an “unlawful assembly” in the area.
As police moved in to disperse the crowd, confrontations ensued, with reports of students being pushed to the ground, pulled by their arms, and sprayed with chemical irritants.
Laura Goldblatt, an assistant professor of English and global studies who has been supporting the demonstrators, expressed deep concern for the safety of the students involved. “Our concern since this began has been the safety of our students. Students are not safe right now,” Goldblatt stated.
The university administration issued a statement clarifying that the demonstrators had been informed that the tents and canopies they had erected were prohibited under school policy and were asked to remove them.
Virginia State Police were called in to assist with enforcement, further escalating the situation.
Meanwhile, at the University of Michigan, commencement ceremonies were marked by the presence of protesters chanting anti-war messages and waving flags in solidarity with Palestine.
While the demonstrations did not lead to clashes with law enforcement, they underscored the deeply polarising nature of the Israel-Hamas conflict, even within academic settings.
These incidents reflect a broader trend of heightened tensions on college campuses across the United States amid ongoing protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Tent encampments calling for universities to divest from Israel or companies supporting the war in Gaza have sprung up nationwide, prompting clashes and arrests at several institutions in recent weeks.
Michigan was among the schools bracing for potential disruptions during commencement weekend, alongside Indiana University, Ohio State University, and Northeastern University in Boston.
With many more protests slated in the coming weeks, the situation remains fluid, highlighting the complex intersection of activism, free speech, and campus security in the midst of international conflicts.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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