On Saturday, Virginia state police arrested approximately 25 pro-Palestine protesters at the University of Virginia (UVa) in Charlottesville, marking the fifth day of ongoing demonstrations.
The protesters, affiliated with the group UVA Encampment for Gaza, have been calling for the university to divest from Israel and disclose all investments, refraining from using its endowment to support institutions connected to Israel.
The protests began on Tuesday, with demonstrators setting up campus tents, violating university policy. Despite this, the university chose not to remove the tents on Friday, citing the presence of children in the area, heavy rain, and the peaceful nature of the protesters.
25 arrested from University of Virginia for pro-Palestine protests (Credits: X.com)
However, on Saturday, police officers equipped with riot gear confronted the protesters, leading to the arrest of around 25 individuals.
According to UVa President Jim Ryan, the university supports free speech but must enforce its policies to ensure that expression does not “interfere with the rights of others.”
Ryan stated that the protesters were given multiple opportunities to comply with university rules but refused, leading to their arrest. According to reports, those arrested were taken to Albemarle County Regional Jail.
Police arrested at least 25 protestors at University of Virginia (Credits: Hindustan Times)
The university is still determining how many of the protesters are affiliated with the institution. The situation highlights the ongoing tensions and debates surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the role of universities in addressing these issues.
While the university aims to balance free speech with policy enforcement, the protesters argue that their demands for divestment and disclosure are essential for promoting justice and human rights.
