Philadelphia – In the early hours of Friday morning, law enforcement authorities took action to dismantle the pro-Palestinian encampment located on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus in Philadelphia. After nearly two weeks, the police have detained over 20 people as they clear the encampment and start taking down the tents.
The operation, led by the Philadelphia Police Department and university police, began shortly after a warning was issued by Penn’s Division of Public Safety. Officers in riot gear quickly moved to disperse the encampment that had been set up on College Green.
“Attention individuals in the College Green Encampment: Penn Police has issued a notice urging immediate dispersal,” announced Penn Public Safety. “Please ensure that you gather your belongings and vacate the premises within the next two minutes. Failure to comply may result in legal consequences.” If you depart at this moment, you will not face any legal consequences.
The swift action taken by law enforcement occurred within a day of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s call for the university to disband the encampment, with the aim of “reestablishing order and ensuring safety on campus.”
As a response to the ongoing protest encampment, Penn has taken disciplinary actions against the students who were involved. Disciplinary actions have been taken against twelve protesters, including six students, with certain individuals being placed on mandatory or temporary leave.
The encampment, set up in opposition to the Israel-Hamas conflict, called for greater transparency regarding Penn’s investments, urged the university to cut ties with businesses supporting Israel, and emphasised the need to protect the speech rights of Palestinian student protesters.