Police in Washington, D.C., started clearing a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University early Wednesday morning, leading to several arrests, according to authorities. This action took place just before the mayor and police chief were scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill about their earlier decision not to intervene.
Thomas Lynch, a spokesperson for the D.C. police, stated that the encampment had recently grown in size and become more volatile.
On Tuesday night, demonstrators marched to the university president's residence. Police began their operation shortly after 3 a.m., with at least one clash reported between demonstrators and law enforcement, though injuries were not immediately confirmed. As of 5 a.m., the operation was still ongoing, and details regarding the number of arrests and charges were not yet available.
It was also unclear how many of those arrested were students.
The move to clear the encampment came just before the scheduled testimony of Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) and Chief Pamela A.
Smith on why they had previously declined requests from the university to remove the encampment, which had been present on the school's grounds for almost two weeks.
Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), chairman of the House Oversight Committee on Oversight and Accountability, had summoned Bowser and Smith to testify at 1 p.m., with a focus on questioning the city's lack of response to the ongoing protest despite repeated requests for assistance from the university.
The encampment, which began on April 25, had faced mounting pressure from members of Congress and university officials to be disbanded.
In a letter circulated among lawmakers, Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) criticized Bowser and Smith for not addressing what he characterized as antisemitism within the encampment. Gottheimer emphasized the need for District officials to intervene and protect all students on campus.
While the hearing was expected to proceed as planned, the move on the encampment was likely to significantly alter the proceedings.
Both Bowser and Smith had intended to defend their decision-making, which had been based on concerns about the optics of taking action against a small group of peaceful protesters.
Police had previously described the encampment as largely peaceful, noting that protesters had not occupied any university buildings.
However, tensions escalated when protesters toppled police barricades and hung a Palestinian flag on a university flagpole. GWU President Ellen M. Granberg had condemned the encampment as unauthorized and potentially dangerous, noting instances of intimidation and harassment against students.
The GWU Student Government Association expressed support for the demonstrators' right to free speech, assembly, and peaceful protest.
However, Granberg stated that the university police force was not equipped to manage the encampment and that the demonstration had been co-opted by individuals unaffiliated with the university community.
Bowser, in a letter to residents, commended the measured approach taken by the community in contrast to the heightened tensions seen at other campuses nationwide. She praised the D.C.
police for their handling of the situation, reiterating that decisions regarding public safety matters are ultimately at the discretion of Chief Smith and her team.