Washington, DC – In a pre-dawn operation, the Metropolitan Police Department cleared out a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University’s campus, leading to the arrest of 30 protesters. Three additional individuals were also arrested in a separate altercation, according to Metro Police Chief Pamela A. Smith.
The action occurred just hours before Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and Smith were scheduled to testify at Congress for the House Oversight Committee regarding the response to the encampment. Following the police intervention, House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, announced the cancellation of the hearing and credited his pressure for prompting the swift action.
Pro-Palestinian protests at universities across the country, including GW’s encampment, have sparked heated debates over the right to protest, free speech limits, and allegations of antisemitism. Since mid-April, over 2,400 individuals have been arrested on US campuses amid these contentious issues.
GW’s encampment, established about two weeks ago, disrupted normal academic activities, drawing criticism from the university’s president, Ellen Granberg. The encampment evolved into a gathering on the University Yard, with tents spreading to the neighboring public street.
Metro Police, in collaboration with the GW administration, moved to disperse the demonstrators to ensure the safety of students and the campus, citing a gradual escalation in protest volatility. According to Smith, signs of a potentially dangerous situation prompted the operation, during which pepper spray was deployed as demonstrators clashed with officers.
Following the dispersal, GW officials confirmed that the police action was conducted in an orderly and safe manner, with no reports of serious injuries during the operation. Despite the arrests and dismantling of the encampment, final exams at the university will proceed as scheduled, with heightened police presence in and around the campus. The University Yard will remain closed until the end of commencement on May 19.
In a separate incident, police also cleared out encampments and arrested protesters at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. These developments highlight the growing tensions surrounding pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses across the United States.