Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith announced that 33 individuals were arrested at an anti-Israel encampment at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The arrests took place on Wednesday morning following escalating tensions during what was initially a peaceful protest.
Chief Smith explained that the decision to intervene was made after signs of potential violence emerged. These signs included an incident where a police officer was pushed by protesters and an item was forcibly taken from his possession. Additionally, there were concerns about the encampment's security, the presence of counter-demonstrators, and reports of protesters from other schools converging at the site.
After consultation with Mayor Muriel Bowser, law enforcement officials issued multiple warnings for the demonstrators to disperse. Despite six announcements urging the crowd to leave, some individuals remained, leading to police entering the encampment and making arrests for charges such as unlawful entry and assault on a police officer.
Following the arrests, more protesters gathered outside the police perimeter, resulting in clashes between officers and demonstrators at 20th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Police resorted to deploying pepper spray and making additional arrests to maintain order.
Mayor Bowser expressed gratitude towards the Metropolitan Police for their handling of the situation and emphasized the importance of peaceful protest. She reiterated that law enforcement's response to demonstrations prioritizes public safety and upholding constitutional rights, with the police chief and her team being the ultimate authority on resource deployment.
