Closing summary
We’re now closing this blog – but you can follow all the latest news and reaction from campus protests across the US in our new live blog:
Here’s what happened earlier today:
Dallas officers arrested at least 19 people when they cleared a protest encampment at the University of Texas campus in the city on Wednesday afternoon.
Michael Drake, the president of the University of California system, has ordered an independent review of the UCLA administration’s planning, after a late-night attack on a pro-Palestinian student encampment resulted in at least 15 people being injured, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, confirmed that 280 people on the Columbia University and Cuny campuses had been arrested on Tuesday. Bragg has not confirmed reports from city and police officials that “outside agitators” had infiltrated student-led protests.
Cuny students with the university’s Gaza Solidarity encampment criticized New York police officers for their “brutal and spineless” arrests of protesters. “We will not be intimidated by these brutal and spineless tactics … We will not stop until these demands are met,” read a statement from students posted on social media.
California governor Gavin Newsom condemned the violence at UCLA. Posting on X, he criticized the “limited and delayed” law enforcement response on Tuesday night, describing it as “unacceptable”.
UCLA cancelled all classes on Wednesday after counter-demonstrators attacked pro-Palestine protesters overnight. “Due to the distress caused by the violence that took place on Royce Quad late last night and early this morning, all classes are cancelled today,” read a statement from the university.
Minouche Shafik, the Columbia University president, sent an email following the use of New York police to lead mass arrests at Tuesday’s protests on campus. In the email sent Wednesday, Shafik said that NYPD had been used because “students and outside activists [were] breaking Hamilton Hall doors, mistreating our Public Safety officers and maintenance staff, and damaging property ... ”.
New York police said the wife of a man convicted of terrorism was not at protests on Columbia’s campus on Tuesday, walking back claims from city and police officials. NYPD deputy commissioner Rebecca Weiner said the woman, who has yet to be publicly identified, was not a part of any protests last night and that police “have no evidence of any criminal wrongdoing on her part”, the New York Daily News reported.
At least one high school started their own encampment in solidarity with university students at Columbia and beyond, according to a flyer from students at Iowa City’s City high.
Police tore down encampments at the University of Wisconsin, Madison early on Wednesday, in yet another crackdown on a peaceful student protest. Several protesters, mostly students, were detained by police.
Updated
Report: At least 19 people arrested at University of Texas, Dallas
After a pro-Palestinian protest encampment was cleared this afternoon at the University of Texas at Dallas, at least 19 people were arrested, according to a local news channel, which said it was unclear whether all those arrested were students.
At least 19 people arrested at #UTD per @shaunrabbfox4. Unlike in Austin, the Collin Co DA is unlikely to drop these trespass charges. It's unclear if all those arrested are students. @FOX4 https://t.co/6RG1lEPAAr
— Steven Dial (@StevenDialFox4) May 1, 2024
Updated
