A massive movement among college students holding generally pro-Palestinian rallies nationwide reached the University of Texas at Dallas on Wednesday.
Protests in the U.S. started at Columbia University in New York on April 17 with an encampment and students calling for an end to Israel's assault on Gaza and for the college to divest from companies benefiting from the war.
Since then, encampments have cropped up on campuses nationwide, including several in Texas. According to the UT Dallas Police Department, officers have made 20 arrests so far.
NBC 5's Candace Sweat was on the scene of the encampment when Collin County Sheriff's Office Assistant Chief Deputy Jeff Price announced that the individuals who were arrested would not see a magistrate until Thursday morning.
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Earlier this week, police removed protestors at the University of Texas at Austin by force after they refused to leave an encampment. At the University of North Texas on Tuesday, protests were peaceful with no arrests.
Tents were set up at UTD's Chess Plaza Wednesday, where several dozen people gathered in an encampment. It's unclear whether all of the people are students. People in the plaza held up signs saying, "Free Palestine" and "Free Gaza." Another sign said, "Welcome to Gaza Liberation Plaza."
UT issued a notice on Wednesday saying encampments are not permitted, passageways cannot be blocked, and violators could face charges of criminal trespass and be removed.
Just before 4 p.m., law enforcement officers with the UT Dallas Department of Public Safety, Texas State Troopers, and the sheriff's office were seen dismantling the encampment and arresting some of the protestors.
A student who spoke with NBC 5 said she was there to support SJP, the organization Students for Justice in Palestine, and that the officers removing the protestors should be ashamed of themselves.
Most of the protestors nationwide have been gathering to discuss issues around the Israel-Hamas War. As of noon on Wednesday, the UTD protest remained peaceful but that's not been the case at all of the protests.
Dueling groups of protesters clashed overnight at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappling in fistfights and shoving, kicking, and using sticks to beat one another. Hours earlier, police carrying riot shields burst into a building at Columbia University that pro-Palestinian protesters took over and broke up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school while inspiring others.
