Biden to address campus protests in remarks from the White House
From CNN’s Kevin Liptak
President Joe Biden will speak at the White House on Thursday about the ongoing protests that have roiled college campuses across the country.
The president is expected to deliver remarks before he departs for North Carolina later in the day.
132 people arrested at UCLA campus Thursday
From CNN’s Camila Bernal and Andy Rose
There were 132 arrests made on the UCLA campus during an operation to remove a protest encampment Thursday morning, authorities said.
About 250 officers were involved — about one officer for every protester in the encampment, California Highway Patrol spokesperson Alejandro Rubio told CNN. in addition to officers from other jurisdictions.
Rubio said fire extinguishers and water bottles were thrown at police, but no officers were injured.
“Flash bangs were used,” CHP public information officer Alec Pereyda said. “Those are shot into the air to try and get the crowd to pay attention and realize that it’s time to disperse and leave the area.”
The UCLA Police Department will determine if charges are filed, Rubio said.
Portland State University is closed due to ‘ongoing incident at library’
From CNN’s Caroll Alvarado
The Portland State University campus is closed Thursday “due to ongoing incident at library,” PSU posted on X. “Check http://pdx.edu email for more information.”
Earlier Thursday, Portland police said they were working to clear pro-Palestinian protesters from Portland State University’s library.
CNN previously reported negotiations with student protesters — who entered the library Monday — fell through early Wednesday, though about 50 people left the building on their own.
Flashbangs heard on UCLA campus
From CNN’s Josh Campbell
Flashbangs were heard on the UCLA campus Thursday morning as a line of officers guarded the perimeter of a protest encampment.
CNN also saw lines of police officers pushing back different groups of a few dozen protesters each around the campus.
University of Florida will move forward with graduation ceremony; Chancellor says protests “will not be tolerated”
From CNN’s Rachel Ramirez
As universities grapple with how to move forward with commencement ceremonies amid escalating campus protests against Israel’s war on Gaza, the University of Florida is proceeding with its own graduation ceremony on Friday.
In a letter to the State University System of Florida, Chancellor Ray Rodrigues wrote that tomorrow’s university-wide commencement is “not the time nor place to hold a political protest.”
About nine people had been arrested this week at the University of Florida campus protests in Gainesville, Florida, adding to the growing list of campus arrests unfolding across the country.
“No commencement ceremony should be canceled, or substantively modified, as a result of unruly demonstrators,” Rodrigues wrote.
The statement comes as colleges rethink how to host graduation ceremonies with the ongoing protests. The University of Southern California already canceled its main commencement for 2024 graduating students, while Columbia University asked New York police to maintain its presence on campus through at least May 17, two days after the school’s commencement.
For Florida universities, Rodrigues said the ceremonies will go as planned.
“You are authorized to take any steps necessary to ensure the safety of all attendees during the ceremony,” Rodrigues wrote. “Please promptly inform faculty, staff, students, and guests that protests, discrimination or harassment at commencement ceremonies will not be tolerated.”
The University of Florida will be hosting UF alumnus Carlton Ward Jr., conservation photographer known for his photos of the elusive Florida panther and an advocate of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, to address graduates at the university-wide commencement ceremony set for 7 p.m. ET tomorrow in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
12 people arrested at University of New Hampshire protests
From CNN’s Joe Sutton and Chris Boyette
Twelve people were arrested Wednesday night during protests at the University of New Hampshire, the school said.
“Over the past six months, students supporting Palestine have peacefully protested on campus at least seven times. Despite much communication with organizers regarding the University’s expectations for conduct when exercising their free speech rights, those guidelines were ignored today,” the university said in a statement.
“While we will always protect free speech on our campus, UNH belongs to every citizen of New Hampshire and we will not allow it to be co-opted by a small group of protesters, including outside agitators.”
The school said protesters erected tents, trying to create an encampment on campus.
Ten students and two people not affiliated with the university were charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing, according to the university.
Police to begin clearing occupied Portland State University library
From CNN’s Chandelis Duster
Police in Portland, Oregon, said Thursday morning they are working to clear pro-Palestinian protesters from Portland State University’s library.
“Portland Police is beginning effort to clear the @Portland_State University Library. Expect to hear police announcements via loudspeaker,” the police department said in a post on social media.
CNN previously reported negotiations with student protesters, who entered the library on Monday, fell through early Wednesday, but about 50 people left the building on their own.
PSU has made it “abundantly clear that the library is closed and anyone in the library is trespassing,” university spokesperson Christina Williams told CNN Wednesday. “Since Monday night, we have been in partnership with the Portland Police Bureau with an eye toward bringing this protest to a peaceful close and removing protesters from the library. We are also eager to return to our academic mission.”
The school said it believes between 50 and 100 people are in the library, but noted it’s hard to say exactly how many remain in the building.
17 people were arrested as police cleared an encampment at The University of Texas at Dallas
From CNN’s Andy Rose
More than a dozen people were arrested Wednesday on the campus of The University of Texas at Dallas as law enforcement cleared a pro-Palestinian protest encampment, an official said.
Protesters were ordered to remove tents and structures from the encampment hours after it began Wednesday morning, university spokesperson Brittany Magelssen told CNN.
“As of 5 p.m., there had been 17 arrests for criminal trespass,” said Magelssen.
Video from CNN affiliate KTVT showed Dallas County sheriff’s deputies, Richardson Police officers and state troopers in riot gear.
“Individuals may peacefully assemble in the common outdoor areas of campus to exercise their right to free speech, but they may not construct an encampment or block pathways,” Magelssen said.
UT Dallas had more than 30,000 students enrolled in fall 2023, according to its website.
Police take control of UCLA encampment
From CNN’s Jordan Valinsky and Josh Campbell
Law enforcement officers have taken control of the UCLA encampment site nearly three hours after they were called in by campus officials.
CNN’s Josh Campbell reports that the encampment has been cleared, and police are processing protesters and loading them on to busses.
There is also a larger gathering of protesters at the perimeter of the camp, and police have a wall of officers standing calmly between them and the camp. However, the situation doesn’t seem tense.
Protesters are unhappy though and chanting at the police, but the police don’t appear amped up.