Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania has called for the closure of an anti-Israel encampment at the University of Pennsylvania. Speaking at an event in Westmoreland County, Shapiro expressed concerns about safety and violations of laws by the protesters. He described the situation at Penn as “unstable” and “unacceptable.”
Shapiro cited reports of escalating unruly behavior by protesters, leading to the temporary leave of absence for six student protesters. The university’s statue of Benjamin Franklin was vandalized multiple times since the encampment began.
The governor emphasized the importance of all students feeling safe on campus and urged the university to take action to disband the encampment and restore order. This stance marked a shift from his previous comments, where he had deferred to the university’s discretion on handling the protest.
With Penn’s graduation ceremony approaching, security measures have been heightened to ensure the safety of attendees amidst concerns of potential confrontations with the encampment’s inhabitants.
