DC police clear out GWU pro-Palestinian encampment, 33 protesters arrested

[mahatmakanejeeves]

DC police clear out GWU pro-Palestinian encampment, 33 protesters arrested

Emily Venezky | [e-mail]
May 8, 2024, 11:30 AM

Listen live for the latest updates on The George Washington University protests.

D.C. police took down a pro-Palestinian encampment at The George Washington University early Wednesday morning and arrested 33 protesters, D.C. police Chief Pamela Smith announced during a news conference Wednesday.

Police told WTOP that officers began clearing University Yard around 3 a.m., after law enforcement officials gave multiple warnings to clear the encampment. Protesters who refused to leave the site were taken into custody.

DC’s reasoning behind clearing GW encampment

During the news conference, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Smith said that clearing the encampment was essential for maintaining public safety in the District, and that city officials had been in communication with the campus administration as they planned the move.

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Bowser and Smith were scheduled to speak about the city’s response to the protests at a hearing with the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Wednesday morning. Chairman James Comer, a Kentucky Republican, canceled the meeting and praised D.C. police for clearing out “antisemitic and unlawful protesters” on school campus.

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The Associated Press and WTOP’s Luke Lukert, Andrew Alsbrooks and Ciara Wells contributed to this report.

Emily Venezky
Emily Venezky is a digital writer/editor at WTOP. Emily grew up listening to and reading local news in Los Angeles, and she’s excited to cover stories in her chosen home of the DMV. She recently graduated from The George Washington University, where she studied political science and journalism.
[e-mail]

[atreides1]

1. Okay.

Bowser either got a bribe or a threat!

[IronLionZion]

2. The encampments never made any sense to me

there were students camping out at my university 20 years ago protesting the Iraq war and that made no sense to me back then either.

The marches and protests against school research used for weapons made sense. Candlelight vigils for people who died in the attacks made sense.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Police clear pro-Palestinian protest camp and arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor's hearing is cancele

U.S. NEWS
Police clear pro-Palestinian protest camp and arrest 33 at DC campus as mayor’s hearing is canceled

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BY ASHRAF KHALIL
Updated 12:42 PM EDT, May 8, 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police using pepper spray cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University and arrested dozens of demonstrators on Wednesday just as city officials were set to appear before hostile lawmakers in Congress to account for their handling of the 2-week-old protest.

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability canceled the hearing after the crackdown, with its chairman and other Republicans welcoming the police action. House Speaker Mike Johnson said “it should not require threatening to haul D.C.’s mayor before Congress to keep Jewish students at George Washington University safe.”

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said she and Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith decided to clear the camp based on shifting information about increased threats. “Our response to demonstrations is always rooted in public safety and responsibility,” the mayor said.

Smith said there were signs “the protest was becoming more volatile and less stable.” Among them were indications that protesters had “gathered improvised weapons” and were “casing” university buildings with the possible intention of occupying them, said Jeffery Carroll, the police department’s executive assistant chief. Bowser and Smith had been called to testify to the panel before the afternoon hearing was pulled.

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