Pro-Palestinian protesters swarmed the University of Southern California campus Wednesday resulting in nearly 100 arrests and restricted access to the school Thursday morning.
The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that 93 people had been arrested for trespassing following a full day of tension-filled protests Wednesday. No injuries were reported, police said.
The events also sparked a response from USC’s Department of Public Safety, which announced on X, formerly Twitter, that the campus would remain closed to everyone except students, faculty, staff and those with business on campus until further notice.
Anyone arriving on campus will have to show proper identification, the Department stated.
The demonstrators, including many who are not associated with the university in any way, flooded the campus early Wednesday to pitch tents and demand an end to the war in Gaza, similar to actions that have taken place at Columbia University and other U.S. colleges.
Israel has launched a relentless assault in Gaza since Hamas attacked the Jewish state last October, killing more than 1,100 people and taking more than 200 hostages, many of which still have not been released.
Pro-Palestinian supporters are calling Israel’s response a genocide and want the school to cut ties with companies that do business with the Israeli government.
Tensions escalated when campus police asked individuals to remove the tents, which are not allowed on campus.
Officers dressed in riot gear began to clear the crowds after a dispersal order was issued around 4 p.m.
The demonstrators, many chanting “free, free, Palestine” during the dispersal, claimed officers were “RAIDING ENCAMPMENTS” and “VIOLENTLY ARRESTING” them, according to an activist’s account.
Overnight, a group of demonstrators gathered outside the police department in support of those who were arrested.
Wednesday’s disruptive events come on the heels of the university’s decision not to allow its pro-Palestinian valedictorian Asna Tabassum to speak at next month’s commencement ceremony following allegations of antisemitism.
University officials said the speech would put her safety at risk and that while they do support freedom of expression their top priority is to protect the Trojan community.
The LAPD said patrols will be visible around the campus Thursday.