79 arrested on UT campus during Monday protest, sheriff’s office says

Editor’s note: This live blog is no longer being updated.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A total of 79 people were arrested Monday after a group of pro-Palestine protesters gathered on the South Mall at the University of Texas at Austin’s campus in the afternoon and set up several tents in the area. The university issued a dispersal order, and law enforcement responded shortly after.

UTPD sent a dispersal order shortly after 1 p.m. after protesters began gathering with pro-Palestine signage and formed a circle around tents they’d set up.

The protest formed separately from one aimed at speaking out about the closing of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion offices on university campuses statewide.

KXAN’s Jala Washington was on campus Monday and reported that Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers and other law enforcement arrived on campus and barriers were being put up at around 1:30 p.m.

Around 4 p.m., law enforcement removed everyone in the tented area.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Tuesday morning that 79 people were booked into the Travis County Jail Monday in association with the protest. The sheriff’s office said the university’s police department was the arresting agency for 75 of those people, and the Austin Police Department was the arresting agency for the other four.

Seventy-eight of the people arrested are charged with criminal trespass. One of them has an additional charge of obstructing a highway or passageway, and one of them is charged with interfering with public duties, according to TCSO.

According to a UT source, 46 of the 79 people arrested on Monday were not UT students.

The University of Texas released a statement on Monday’s protest, saying it believed most of the people at the protest were not affiliated with the university.

Earlier today, a number of protestors, many believed to be non-UT affiliated individuals, erected a tent encampment on the South Lawn, with a barricade enclosure of tables secured by metal chains, and strategically placed tools, tents, and rocks. When approached, protestors escalated by becoming physically and verbally combative with Dean of Students’ staff. In response, the University of Texas took swift action to preserve a safe, conducive learning environment for our 53,000 students as they prepare for final exams.

UT Austin requested backup assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety to protect the safety of the campus community and enforce our Institutional Rules, such as the rule that prohibits encampments on campus. Because of the encampments and other violations of the University’s Institutional Rules related to protests, protestors were told repeatedly to disperse. When they refused to disperse, some arrests were made for trespassing. Others were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Protests are allowed at the University of Texas. Since October and prior to April 24, no fewer than 13 pro-Palestinian free speech events were held on the UT campus, and four more demonstrations have been held since Thursday, largely without incident. The University strongly supports the free speech and assembly rights of our community and we want students and others on campus to know that protests on campus are fully permissible, provided that they do not violate Institutional Rules or threaten the safety of our campus community.

University of Texas

Last Wednesday, 57 people were booked into the Travis County Jail following a pro-Palestinian protest on campus. The Travis County Attorney’s office said Friday it reviewed the cases and determined they would not proceed because they did not have “sufficient probable cause.”

Garza said the initial review of the probable cause affidavits for Monday’s arrests did not reveal the same deficiencies as the cases dropped last week did, and the new cases remain active as of Tuesday. Garza said the difference between them is that the newer ones are more detailed and substantive, and the office believes they meet the standard for probable cause.

Garza noted that the manner in which the protests have been handled has put a strain on the criminal justice system as well as law enforcement officers, saying that the more law enforcement officers who are dispatched to respond means the fewer there are to respond to other needs, like domestic violence and other cases.

She also said she reached out to the university on how to “find a better way forward,” reprimanding the practice of sending the protesters to jail for low-level criminal charges.

Read live reports in the blog below.

10:35 p.m.

Crowds began thinning Monday night after another round of arrests happened between pro-Palestine protesters and law enforcement. Our Grace Reader reports.

8:23 p.m.

After going through video from earlier in the day sent by KXAN Intern Taryn Jones, Grace Reader said it looked like people were throwing what appeared to be water on law enforcement during the protests on the UT campus.

8:21 p.m.

Shortly after barricades were put in place when people started showing back up on the UT campus, university officials began taking them away, Grace Reader reports.

8:20 p.m.

The university provided another statement Monday evening regarding Monday’s events:

Earlier today, a number of protestors, many believed to be non-UT affiliated individuals, erected a tent encampment on the South Lawn, with a barricade enclosure of tables secured by metal chains, and strategically placed tools, tents, and rocks. When approached, protestors escalated by becoming physically and verbally combative with Dean of Students’ staff. In response, the University of Texas took swift action to preserve a safe, conducive learning environment for our 53,000 students as they prepare for final exams.

UT Austin requested backup assistance from the Texas Department of Public Safety to protect the safety of the campus community and enforce our Institutional Rules, such as the rule that prohibits encampments on campus. Because of the encampments and other violations of the University’s Institutional Rules related to protests, protestors were told repeatedly to disperse. When they refused to disperse, some arrests were made for trespassing. Others were arrested for disorderly conduct.

Protests are allowed at the University of Texas. Since October and prior to April 24, no fewer than 13 pro-Palestinian free speech events were held on the UT campus, and four more demonstrations have been held since Thursday, largely without incident. The University strongly supports the free speech and assembly rights of our community and we want students and others on campus to know that protests on campus are fully permissible, provided that they do not violate Institutional Rules or threaten the safety of our campus community.

University of Texas Austin

8 p.m.

A “small group of people” have returned to the UT campus “surrounded by barricades with lots of water,” our Grace Reader reports.

5:20 p.m.

Our Jala Washington reported she witnessed at least 15 people being arrested during the UT protest. She said some people arrested were carried out “forcefully” by their feet or with their arms behind their heads.

5:10 p.m.

Our Ryan Chandler said “police have largely left.” However, the South Lawn “looks the same as it did before they arrived, minus the tents.”

4:55 p.m.

In a statement to KXAN Monday, DPS said it has “remained on standby” to assist UTPD “with maintaining the peace on the UT Austin campus.”

“Today, DPS personnel provided support with the on-campus protest as requested. There were no arrests made by DPS personnel,” a DPS spokesperson said in the statement.

4:51 p.m.

Our Grace Reader said people who are protesting moved to parts of the UT campus near Guadalupe Street. She said a “loud boom” could be heard, but it was not immediately clear what that was.

4:47 p.m.

Although the South Lawn was cleared on the UT campus, students began pushing law enforcement back to make their way back onto campus, our Ryan Chandler reports.

4:40 p.m.

Our Grace Reader said arrests were made during the protest at UT and said the events “dissolved into chaos.” She said there was a big camp in the middle of the yard that chained tables and chairs. People in the middle of that circle were slowly arrested by law enforcement. She said it’s possible a spray was also used that irritated people’s eyes, and people were seen using water bottles to pour over themselves after.

4:10 p.m.

Our Grace Reader said the final people who were in the middle of a campsite set up during the UT protests were removed.

3:50 p.m.

Our Ryan Chandler said “likely dozens” have been arrested during the protests on the UT campus.

3:45 p.m.

A UT Israeli organization stood on the outskirts watching the events of the protests unfold on the campus. One of its members spoke to our Jala Washington.

3:25 p.m.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Office tells KXAN it was asked by UTPD to “provide transportation in case support is needed to take people to booking.”

3:15 p.m.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott commented about the protest on X.

“No encampments will be allowed. Instead, arrests are being made,” Abbott wrote.

3:04 p.m.

Our Grace Reader said people are “hunkered down” in the middle of a group of law enforcement.

3:02 p.m.

UT released a statement regarding today’s events on the UT campus:

After protesters ignored repeated directives from both the administration and law enforcement officers to comply with Institutional Rules and remove tents assembled on the University’s South Lawn, then physically engaged with and verbally assaulted Dean of Students staff who attempted to confiscate them, UT and partner law enforcement agencies dismantled an encampment and arrested several protesters. Baseball size rocks were found strategically placed within the encampment. The majority of protesters are believed to be unaffiliated with the university.

On Saturday the University received extensive online threats from a group organizing today’s protest. These threats have been reported to local, state and federal law-enforcement. Since October and prior to April 24, no fewer than 13 pro-Palestinian free speech events were held on the UT campus, and four since then, largely without incident. The university will continue to support the free speech and assembly rights of our community while also enforcing its Institutional Rules.

University of Texas

3 p.m.

Law enforcement began detaining more people during a protest on the UT campus. During that time, people could be heard chanting, “hands off our students” and “let them go.” Our Ryan Chandler is on the scene.

2:50 p.m.

The UT Police said on social media a “dispersal order” was issued for anyone participating in the protests.

2:50 p.m.

Reporter Grace Reader is also on the UT campus, where she posted video of other people getting detained by law enforcement.

2:40 p.m.

Reporter Ryan Chandler is now on the the UT campus, where another person was arrested.

2:30 p.m.

DPS troopers began dismantling campsite on the UT campus during the protest. Reporter Jala Washington captured this video.

2:25 p.m.

Students formed a circle around a campsite as DPS troopers arrived on the UT campus, Reporter Jala Washington captured this video.

2:01 p.m.

A third-party medic group has arrived on campus, students say per their request.

1:55 p.m.

First detainment occurs.

1:50 p.m.

Troopers begin dismantling a campsite set up by pro-Palestine protesters.

1:41 p.m.

DPS troopers begin approaching crowd. People have formed a circle around a camp of pro-Palestine protesters.

1:36 p.m.

DPS troopers get in position to disperse protesters, who can be heard chanting, “there’s not riot here. Why are you in riot gear?”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.