- Police arrested four protesters after warning them they could face criminal charges if they did not disperse
- The rally at the Austin campus was organized by the university’s Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSJ) chapter
- It comes as standoffs with cops kicked off at universities across the country on another day of mayhem in US
Hundreds of troopers have marched on the University of Texas at Austin before scuffling with pro-Palestine protesters as demonstrations kicked off at campuses across the country.
Police arrested at least four activists – who burst out in tears when they were handcuffed – after warning them they could face criminal charges if they did not disperse.
The rally at the Austin campus was organized by the university’s Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSJ) chapter and quickly descended into anarchy.
The group said it was inspired by their ‘comrades’ at Yale and Columbia University, where in-person classes have been canceled due to the unrest sparked by ‘encampments for Gaza.’
It comes as pro-Gaza groups took to universities across the US and clashed with police and Jewish counter-protesters, with furious demonstrators spotted at USC, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Brown and NYU.
UT Austin right now. Protesters and DPS in a standoff on the main drag of campus pic.twitter.com/OipxvXDbWC
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
The PSC chapter at UT Austin said on Instagram: ‘UT administration has called on state troopers in an attempt to scare us into silence.’
They added: ‘get these pics off our campus.’ Texas Department of Public Safety officers were also seen in horses and riot gear at the protest.
DailyMail.com has reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety for additional information. Several pro-Palestine demonstrators were seen sobbing as they watched police enter the scene.
BREAKING: Organizers of the Yale divestment encampment have been informed that those at the encampment can expect arrest, likely sometime between now and early morning.
Repeat: ARRESTS ARE EXPECTED AT YALE.
The crowd of hundred of students is sitting in a circle and singing. pic.twitter.com/yjwdxi0hGF
— Thomas Birmingham (@thomasbirm) April 22, 2024
The over 200 protesters are demanding UT-Austin divest from any manufacturers supplying Israel with weapons aid the war against Hamas in Gaza.
They gathered at the university’s Gregory Gym and marched towards the South Lawn, where they planned to sit for the rest of the day.
One of the demonstrators arrested was one of the protest’s organizers, with an officer singling him out saying he would be the first to be arrested, according to the Tribune.
Also on Wednesday, police clashed with protesters at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.