Around 25 pro-Palestine demonstrators were detained by state police officers at the University of Virginia (UVa.) on Saturday.
Saturday marked the fifth day of the ongoing demonstrations in Charlottesville, Va., with continued demands for the school to withdraw investment from Israel.
A group named UVA Encampment for Gaza called requested the school to reveal all investments and avoid using its endowment to invest in institutions linked to Israel.
Tents were erected on Friday, which breached the institution’s policy alongside the use of megaphones. They were not removed on Friday due to the presence of children in the area, heavy rain, and the peaceful nature of the demonstrators. However, they were subsequently cleared on Saturday. according According to the school, the demonstrators were then removed on Saturday because they were in violation of the institution’s policy, despite the presence of children and rainy weather, as well as their “peaceful” conduct.
Police officers in riot gear confronted the demonstrators on Saturday afternoon.
Jim Ryan, UVA’s president, stated that the school supports freedom of speech, but it must enforce its policies to ensure that expression does not “interfere with the rights of others.”
“Regrettably, a small group decided to knowingly violate the rules after being given numerous chances to comply, and then declined to leave the area voluntarily,” Ryan stated in a statement on Saturday.
Those who were detained were transported to Albemarle County Regional Jail, as reported by various media reports.
The school indicated that it is still awaiting a response regarding the number of demonstrators affiliated with the institution.
