An anti-Israel demonstrator who identified himself as one of the 33 people arrested this morning during the George Washington University encampment clearing has vowed that his movement is “stronger than ever.”
“I mean, I literally just got out of jail an hour and a half ago,” a woman named Nora said at a news conference. “We are here. We are strong. They can threaten us. They can brutalize us. They can pepper spray us. Yes, we can. But the movement is here, stronger than ever. Our energy is not gone. In fact, we are back with GW and Metro PD. I completely reject the idea that it had to escalate.
“No matter how brutal we are, no matter how many police officers are there, it’s nothing compared to what’s happening in Palestine. It’s nothing compared to what’s happening in Gaza,” she said. continued. “This is nothing compared to what is happening now in Rafah. And we will not lose our compass eye in Palestine, which will move our movement forward.”
“This is the front line of our fight, and we will not let some arrests get in the way of that,” she said. “There’s not much to say other than the fact that they can do their best, but we’re not going to let any f—— system walk us around. Oh, and for the time being “I’m going to take a break.” ”
Live updates: Anti-Israel protests on US college campuses
Metropolitan Police Department officers participate in a pepper spray demonstration at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (Sage Russell, GW Hatchett, via AP)
Metropolitan Police Department Commissioner Pamela Smith announced today that 33 people were arrested at an anti-Israel camp at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning.
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Workers move student tents onto dump trucks after police clear an anti-Israel camp at George Washington University and arrest protesters early Wednesday, May 8. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)
Smith told a news conference that police decided to intervene after the initially peaceful protests began to escalate and indicated a risk of violence. Mr Smith said police feared protests were becoming “more volatile and destabilizing” after a police officer was shoved and had items taken from his hands by a demonstrator last Thursday. He said he began to suspect that something was wrong.
“Additionally, items that could be used in offensive and defensive weapons had been collected,” Smith said.
Early Wednesday morning, protesters clashed with Metropolitan Police Department officers at George Washington University. (Sage Russell/GW Hatchett via AP)
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After consulting with Mayor Muriel Bowser, police decided to take action and warned demonstrators multiple times to disperse. After six dispersal announcements, police entered the camp and began making arrests on charges of trespassing and assaulting a police officer.
FOX News’ Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
