An encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Southern California was ordered to disperse this evening by Los Angeles police, who declared an unlawful assembly.
Those not obeying were arrested, and some members of the crowd who left were seen blocking traffic on nearby streets. Reports indicate at least 30 protesters were taken into custody.
Police in riot gear arrived in the early evening after a day of protest at USC‘s Alumni Park. The authorities created a skirmish line as dozens of other protesters are refusing to leave on Wednesday night.
The USC protests add to similar actions at Columbia University in New York and the University of Texas at Austin, among others, as college students have staged sit-ins and other activities to protest the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The USC protesters, including students and off-campus participants, erected banners and pitched tents in Alumni Park early in the morning. Their actions come in the wake of USC barring a pro-Palestinian valedictorian from addressing the main graduation at the school.
School officials ultimately closed campus today by about 1:45 p.m., allowing only students to enter.
A dispersal order was issued and Los Angeles police officers arrived on campus around 5 p.m. Officers dressed in riot gear began dispersing the gathered crowds.
