AUSTIN, Texas — Dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested Monday on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin in a scene very similar to what took place on April 24.
A total 79 people were booked into Travis County Jail, 78 of whom were charged with criminal trespass. One of them was additionally charged with obstructing a highway or passageway. The other person was charged with interfering with public duties.
What started in the early afternoon hours as a protest against the firings of dozens of university staffers in the wake of the state’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office ban turned into another larges-scale demonstration in support of Palestinians.
Some say the protests intersect.
“I’m down with their cause. I think that this definitely intertwines there. DEI and Palestine, the liberation of Palestine definitely intertwines with each other,” said UT Austin student Jackie Campos.
According to Capital Tonight reporter Erin Davis, who was at the scene Monday, pro-Palestinian protesters set up tents on the south lawn of the campus in violation of the university’s no-tents rule. The encampment Monday was held in solidarity with others at several universities across the nation.
Just after 1 p.m., UT Austin police issued a dispersal order requiring protesters to leave the South Mall.
Once again, Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the campus. Protesters were arrested, some of them carried away. About 3:30 p.m., Davis reported that about 40 protesters remained in tents on the South Lawn as police arrested them one by one.
Some students say pro-Palestinian protests aren’t the answer to the conflict in the Middle East.
“I think dialogue is the most important thing. I’ve been working with my peers trying to talk to them in the classroom, but this is not dialogue,” said UT student Jared Levy.
Law enforcement used a push maneuver, and by 4:15 p.m. demonstrators were removed from the South Lawn.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted a brief statement along with video obtained by Austin journalist Tony Plohetski.
The University of Texas on Monday afternoon released the following statement:
"After protesters ignored repeated directives from both the administration and law enforcement officers to comply with Institutional Rules and remove tents assembled on the University's South Lawn, then physically engaged with and verbally assaulted Dean of Students staff who attempted to confiscate them, UT and partner law enforcement agencies dismantled an encampment and arrested several protesters.
“Baseball size rocks were found strategically placed within the encampment. The majority of protesters are believed to be unaffiliated with the University.
"On Saturday the University received extensive online threats from a group organizing today's protest. These threats have been reported to local, state and federal law-enforcement.
“Since October and prior to April 24, no fewer than 13 pro-Palestinian free speech events were held on the UT campus, and four since then, largely without incident. The University will continue to support the free speech and assembly rights of our community while also enforcing its Institutional Rules."
Monday’s demonstration followed a protest on the UT campus on April 24 that resulted in 57 arrests for criminal trespass. All those charges were dropped due to lack of sufficient probable cause.