On Friday, May 10th, police dismantled protest camps at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Pennsylvania, and arrested dozens of anti-Semitic protesters. At the same time, Harvard University began imposing disciplinary measures, including suspensions, on students who were involved in setting up camps on campus to participate in the protests.
Student journalists reported that Philadelphia police in riot gear forcibly removed them from the University of Pennsylvania camp, demolished tents, and threw protesters’ belongings into garbage trucks.
The University of Pennsylvania’s public safety department stated that approximately 33 people were arrested on the campus.
Protesters at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were also arrested. Student journalists reported that riot police arrested at least 10 protesters, dismantled the camp, and disposed of their belongings.
In recent weeks, a wave of anti-Semitic demonstrations has spread among dozens of universities across the United States. University officials cited safety concerns related to the protests and aimed to clear the camps before the May graduation ceremonies, which were expected to draw a large number of off-campus visitors.
On Friday, Harvard University started imposing suspensions on students who joined the anti-Semitic protests at the Massachusetts Cambridge campus.
Earlier this week, Harvard University’s interim president, Alan Garber, stated that students were participating in final exams and preparing for graduation ceremonies, and the protest camps had disrupted the educational environment.
Garber mentioned that participating protesters would face suspension. They would not be allowed on campus, would be ineligible to take exams, and would have to vacate campus housing.
A Harvard spokesperson stated on Friday that the disciplinary process of placing protesters on involuntary leave was ongoing, but did not specify the number of students suspended.
The protesters demanded a ceasefire in Gaza by Israel and urged schools to divest from companies associated with Israel.
The Union Theological Seminary, affiliated with Columbia University, approved students’ divestment demands.
Earlier this week, The Evergreen State College in Washington took similar action. Local media reported that representatives from Evergreen and students signed an agreement on Tuesday, and protesters voluntarily cleared the camp on Wednesday.
Sally Kornbluth, the president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, mentioned that the 10 people arrested on Friday were peacefully escorted by the police from the scene. However, conflicts between anti-Semitic and pro-Israel protesters had already erupted before the arrests.
Kornbluth stated that she had “no choice” but to dismantle this “high-risk hotspot.”
J. Larry Jameson, the interim president of the University of Pennsylvania, stated earlier this week, “Every day the camp remained was a day the campus safety declined.”
Jameson also cited reports of harassment, threatening remarks, and vandalism of campus landmarks.
Since the large-scale arrests of protesters at Columbia University on April 18th, there have been over 100 protest events across America, resulting in the arrest of at least 2,600 demonstrators.
Anti-Semitic and anti-war protests have also emerged on campuses in other countries.
(This article referred to relevant reports from Reuters)