Hundreds of demonstrators at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), are tightly clustered against their encampment barricades, confronting police officers in helmets and face shields on the opposite side.
This scenario is part of a broader trend of police crackdowns on protests occurring across the country.
Law enforcement was summoned to clear protesters at the University of Texas, Dallas, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In a separate incident at Fordham University in New York, 15 protesters were arrested on Wednesday after they established an indoor encampment.
Following a violent outbreak at UCLA on Wednesday, where counterprotesters attacked the encampment's barricade, University Chancellor Gene Block has announced an investigation, which could result in arrests or expulsions.
Columbia University has opted to transition all exams and academic activities to remote formats for the rest of the semester following a significant police operation that cleared a building occupied by protesters and their encampment.
Nationwide, more than 1,700 individuals have been arrested on campuses, as reported by The Washington Post.
In a rare move, the University of Vermont has agreed to disclose a list of its investments, a victory for pro-Palestinian protesters advocating for universities to divest from businesses linked to Israel.
The situation at UCLA remains tense but peaceful, with protesters chanting "Free Palestine" while facing off with the police. Some protesters have taunted private security personnel, though the situation has not escalated.
Earlier, masked individuals attacked the pro-Palestinian encampment at UCLA, resulting in 15 injuries and criticism of the police for their delayed intervention.
At the University of Texas, Dallas, 17 protesters were charged with criminal trespass after refusing to dismantle their tents. Despite instructions from the university to do so, outside law enforcement was called in when the protesters did not comply.
Colleges and universities are grappling with the aftermath of police actions that cleared some protest encampments and evacuated a Manhattan classroom building, marking a turning point after two weeks of pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Footage of officers in riot gear removing students from Columbia University's Hamilton Hall has sparked nationwide debates about the use of force in handling protests.