Police begin dismantling pro-Palestinian encampment at UW-Madison; multiple arrests underway

[brooklynite]

Source: Wisconsin State Journal

Police have begun dismantling an illegal encampment at UW-Madison established by pro-Palestinian supporters.

WISC-TV reported that just before 7 a.m., several police officers arrived at the encampment on Library Mall and played a recorded message on a loop saying that it was a final warning and that protesters were in violation of university code. About 20 minutes later, nearly 60 police officers, some with riot shields but not dressed in full riot gear, arrived and began removing tents and other items.

There were no initial physical clashes with police but just after 8 a.m., police began arresting some protesters. Law enforcement from the the Wisconsin State Patrol, Dane County Sheriff's Office Madison Police and UW-Police were on the scene, according to initial reports. Television images showed a line of officers between protesters and other officers, who worked to remove the encampment.

In an unusual effort to head off the disruptions that have rocked other campuses around the country, campus leaders and the UW Police Department warned students last week to comply with state law and university rules, which prohibit unauthorized camping on campus.

Read more: https://madison.com/news/local/palestine-protesters-uw-madison-police/article_d441cdd0-07b2-11ef-9d0a-4f3ceb9067e5.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

[AllyCat]

1. Sounds like it is being handled better than on other campuses

at least from this report. I'm sure there is more to the story.

I keep hearing "this is just like Vietnam and Iraq war protests" so why are these kids getting arrested? We got arrested in those protests too. So, yeah, it is kind of like that.

[Cha]

2. Good on the Madison Police.