Police cleared the anti-Israel encampment at Wayne State University in Detroit on Thursday morning after giving campus protesters a one-hour warning to vacate the area. Several arrests were made, and a group of students continued to protest, but the police swiftly cleared the camp.
The continued standoff between the school and the protesters recently forced all classes to go online rather than in person.
FOX 2 in Detroit reported:
Police dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment at Wayne State University; protesters arrestedPolice donning riot gear descended on a pro-Palestinian encampment on the campus of Wayne State University on Thursday morning.Officers could be seen removing protesters from the encampment and breaking down tents. The encampment was set up last week amid the violence in Gaza. Among the activists’ demands are divestment from weapons manufacturing companies supplying Israel, a full disclosure of investments, and ceasing delegation trips to Israel.After protesters were moved off the encampment, they began marching on the campus, where some people clashed with police officers. According to the university, at least 12 people were arrested.The removal of the protesters comes days after the Detroit university shifted to remote operations, citing an “ongoing public safety issue.”In a new statement from school president Kimberly Andrews Espy, she said the encampment “presented legal, health and safety, and operational challenges for our community.”
See the videos below:
Listen to the shrieking as one of the protesters was arrested.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), who had visited the encampment the night before, must have been on speed dial for the protesters because she showed up at the scene quickly and berated the police over the alleged removal of a hijab from one of the arrested students.
This is what Tlaib was doing the night before at the encampment: helping the protesters block the movement of a police car.
Naturally, the students arrested after the camp was cleared were released later.
The Detroit Free Press reported:
Protesters released from jail after being detained by police at WSU encampmentProtesters detained by police Thursday morning when officers cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment on Wayne State University’s campus were released hours later to applause, hugs and the sounds of honking horns and drums.At least 100 protesters gathered outside of the Detroit Detention Center, to await their release around 5 p.m. Thursday after the early morning police action.With arms linked, five detained protesters walked out of the Detroit Detention Center with their lawyers and family members. They were met with cheers and tears of joy from those who came to show support. The crowd’s chants of “Free Palestine” hummed as they drew closer to those released.
Read that last line again and ask yourself which side most of the press is on in this issue.
Featured image via YouTube.
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