Washington DC — D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officers finally cleared an anti-Israel encampment at George Washington University early Wednesday morning.
GWU encampments have been set up for weeks, and GWU leadership asked D.C. city leaders early on to remove the camps, but the mayor and police chief refused, leading to encampments across the country. While concentrating on it, it became a unique existence. The university said its police department does not have the capacity to handle crowd control.
The encampment grew in size after it became clear that the protesters would not be removed immediately. Tensions escalated as the occupiers removed the American flag from the flagpole and police attempted to replace it. The school then hung a large American flag on a building overlooking the camp, much to the occupiers’ annoyance.
The mood in the city changed Tuesday night after protesters marched on President Ellen Grunberg’s home. Police finally issued an order to remove the occupiers. Police warned those in the camp to leave or face arrest. Police entered the occupied area around 3:30 a.m. as the crowd refused to leave, and the camp was declared evacuated about 30 minutes later.
Video from the time showed police using pepper spray on protesters who were actively resisting police lines.
Police arrested 37 adults and one juvenile. Four people were charged with assaulting a police officer, and all arrested were charged with illegal entry.
Police also removed a keffiyeh and a Palestinian flag placed on a statue of George Washington by camp occupiers. Some demonstrators left the camp, but stayed behind to figure out what to do next. Protesters jeered and shouted profanities at officers as they passed by the crowd.
Eliminate anti-Israel camp at George Washington UniversityJulio Rosas/Blaze Media
The encampment clearance operation was conducted ahead of Bowser’s scheduled testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee later today.
“Interesting. On the day Mayor Bowser was testifying at the Capitol, she sent the DC police to clear the GWU encampment. Coincidence? I don’t think so.”Mike Congressman Collins (Republican, Georgia) Posted With X.
Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) said the hearing was canceled to allow for an operation to remove the trespassers.
GWU staff were responsible for collecting trash and tents from the campsite.
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