The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, arrested dozens of people on Wednesday following a skirmish between officers and a group that had been cleared from a pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus. The police stated that they had attempted non-arrest methods to deescalate tensions and ensure the safety of students and the GW campus. However, they noted a gradual escalation in the volatility of the protest, leading to the decision to disperse the demonstrators.
The arrests were made for charges including assault on a police officer and unlawful entry. The action occurred just hours before Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and GW President Ellen Granberg were scheduled to testify before Congress on the response to the encampment. The hearing was subsequently canceled following the clearance of the encampment by the Metropolitan Police Department.
