The Virginia State Police dispersed an anti-Israel protest at the University of Virginia (UVA) in Charlottesville over the weekend and arrested around two dozen protesters. Law enforcement officers in riot gear were observed approaching the pro-Palestinian encampment on the university grounds and using chemical irritants to clear the area, as shown in a video posted by The Cavalier Daily, UVA’s student newspaper.
Earlier in the day, the student newspaper reported that approximately 40 law enforcement officers had surrounded the anti-Israel encampment around 12:30 p.m. Another video posted by the newspaper showed police dragging a protester away from the encampment.
UVA released a statement stating that the pro-Palestinian protest had violated several university policies, leading to law enforcement officials clearing the area and declaring an unlawful assembly. The university mentioned that the protest had been peaceful and compliant with policies prior to the escalation on Saturday.
UVA President Jim Ryan mentioned a change in the protest’s tone on Friday evening, with the arrival of individuals unaffiliated with the university. Following several warnings and violations of university policies, law enforcement officials arrived on Saturday and provided protesters with multiple opportunities to leave before dispersing the encampment.
This incident at UVA is part of a trend where police have cleared similar anti-Israel encampments at other universities across the nation. The first pro-Palestinian encampment at Columbia University led to suspensions and arrests, with subsequent protests and encampments being established at various campuses in solidarity.
