(NewsNation) — Students at the University of Southern California set up an encampment, joining a nationwide movement of pro-Palestine protests on college campuses.
Students at a growing number of U.S. colleges are gathering in protest encampments with a unified demand of their schools: Stop doing business with Israel or any companies that support its ongoing war in Gaza.
Mayhem broke out on the USC campus when safety patrol officers came in and began physically tearing down the tents students had put up. At the same time, students were yanking at the tents and trying to put them back.
Just 10 minutes after patrol officers tore tents down off Alumni Park on campus, the tents were moved back.
No arrests were made at USC, but tensions appeared to be escalating around midday, with student leaders and public safety officers shoving back and forth. Students are stressing that they are peacefully demonstrating but may be asked to move back from the grassy area they have deemed a “liberated zone” on campus for an event.
The Los Angeles Police Department was alerted to the situation on campus but were not called on to act. The Public Safety Department told NewsNation it could handle the situation for the time being.
USC has been in the spotlight since canceling the valedictorian Asna Tabassum’s speech at the May 10 ceremony because of safety concerns.
Tabassum, who is Muslim, has expressed support for Palestinians in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, and university officials said the response to her selection as valedictorian had “taken on an alarming tenor.” They did not cite any specific threats.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.