(PatriotNewsDaily.com) – Over 20 individuals were detained on Wednesday during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin, which was part of a broader wave of campus protests across the U.S. related to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
The arrests included individuals from other universities such as Columbia University, New York University, and Yale, where students are pressuring their institutions to sever financial ties with Israeli companies and calling on the U.S. government to withdraw military support for Israel.
At the University of Texas, the Palestine Solidarity Committee organized the protest. According to KVUE-TV in Austin, the students left their classes on Wednesday morning and gathered near Gregory Gym intending to march to the university’s south mall.
However, the university administration had previously informed the Palestine Solidarity Committee through a letter from the Office of the Dean of Students that the protest was unauthorized and warned of disciplinary measures, including suspension, if the event proceeded.
Despite this, the students commenced their protest at 11:40 a.m., leading to a significant police presence on campus. The Austin American-Statesman reported that after roughly 45 minutes of marching, the police issued a dispersal order, warning of arrests for those who did not comply. Although some initially began to disperse, many students regrouped and continued their demonstration, which resulted in several arrests. By the afternoon, the students had shifted their protest to another campus area and started setting up tents for an encampment.
By the evening, over 20 people had been arrested, as reported by KVUE. Texas Governor Greg Abbott commented on the situation, emphasizing that antisemitism and participation in what he described as “hate-filled, antisemitic protests” would not be tolerated in Texas, hinting at severe repercussions for those involved, including potential expulsion from public educational institutions.
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