By AZFamily Digital News Staff, The Associated Press and Zach Prelutsky
Published: Apr. 26, 2024 at 9:49 AM MST|Updated: 5 hours ago
TEMPE, AZ (AZFamily) — Sixty-nine people were taken into custody during a political protest on the Old Main lawn at Arizona State University’s Tempe campus early Saturday. That number, coupled with three arrests made on Friday, means 72 arrests have been made in connection to the Pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
Dozens gathered to protest the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and called on the university to stop doing business with companies that support Israel. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators also demanded ASU officials to disclose all investments made with student’s tuition.
Pro-Palestine protestors were back on campus on Saturday, gathering outside the Gammage Auditorium. The group gathered for about two and a half hours before dispersing, several people held up signs and flags as well as chanting. Some of the people who came on Saturday were at the protests on Friday as well but left before the arrests were made.
“I didn’t know that they had been arrested. I was trying to keep up with the updates online, but when we came here everything was gone so I was shocked actually. Nobody was aggressive,” said Pro-Palestinian Protestor Noor.
Arizona’s Family news crew captured protesters huddled in groups holding “Free Palestine” signs and waving Palestinian flags. Protesters also made a wall as sprinklers began to go off. Chants were heard denouncing ASU President Michael Crow.
Ultimately, all protesters were forced out by authorities as demonstrations aren’t allowed to take place between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
On Saturday evening, ASU sent the following statement regarding the unauthorized encampment and arrests:
Many set up makeshift tents on the lawn, which the university says is not allowed. ASU police say that three people were arrested on Friday afternoon “for setting up unauthorized encampment, in violation of university policy and the ABOR Student Code of Conduct.”
The three men arrested on Friday were in front of a judge for their initial appearances on Saturday morning. All three were arrested for criminal trespassing and one for resisting arrest, but a judge says he found no probable cause for those three arrests.
“Based on the statements of the attorney’s and what I reviewed today I’m not going to find probable cause as to these allegations, what I reviewed in the Form IV, as (defendants attorney) pointed out, was very conclusory at best,” said the Maricopa County Judge.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell sent the following statement regarding the protests at ASU:
ASU released a brief statement regarding the arrests on Friday afternoon:
“So far we have set our encampment in the liberated zone for Palestine,” one protester said. “This is also in solidarity with students across the nation who have been arrested by campus police.”
One ASU student from Israel said seeing the large crowd made him feel unsafe, but he’s not backing down. “All violence starts peaceful at some point and so do many of the violence protests I’ve seen in Princeton, and what ends up happening is Jewish people getting attacked getting their flags snatched off them,” he said.
The ACLU of Arizona posted the following statement on X (formerly Twitter) in support of the right to protest:
“Students and young people are at the forefront of civil and human rights struggles, today and throughout our history. We support the rights of student protestors at ASU and across the country to express their viewpoints including those that challenge our government.”
Tempe police are assisting ASU officers on campus, and ASU will lead the investigation.
Tempe Police are assisting ASU Police with an investigation on their Tempe campus. ASU is leading this investigation and incident. pic.twitter.com/SwjDkNFCBD
— Tempe Police Department (@TempePolice) April 26, 2024
Friday’s event comes at the wake of campus protests across the country. The students are calling for universities to separate themselves from any companies that are advancing Israel’s military efforts in Gaza — and in some cases from Israel itself.
Protests on many campuses have been orchestrated by coalitions of student groups. The groups largely act independently, though students say they’re inspired by peers at other universities.
At Columbia University, police arrested over 100 protestors. Earlier this week, the Ivy League school, where Monday is set to be the last day of classes, switched to hybrid learning. Commencement is set for May 15.
The University of Southern California has canceled its main stage graduation ceremony set for May 10 as its campus is roiled by protests. The university already canceled a commencement speech by the school’s pro-Palestinian valedictorian, citing safety concerns. The Los Angeles Police Department said more than 90 people were arrested Wednesday night for alleged trespassing during a protest at the university.
Protests have also popped up at The Ohio State University, George Washington University, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, New York University, Emory University, Northwestern University, Fashion Institute of Technology, Indiana University Bloomington, University of Pennsylvania.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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