Demonstrators at Penn protest war in Gaza and set up encampment; Pulitzer Prize winner Chris Hedges escorted out of Princeton rally

As campus unrest over Israel’s treatment of Gaza continued to rage at colleges across the country, hundreds of students and faculty in Philadelphia and Princeton took up the cause, staging encampments on area campuses, walking out of classes, and waging lively protests.

At the University of Pennsylvania, students erected about 10 tents on the College Green late Thursday afternoon, as Penn became the latest local campus with an encampment. The group at Penn described itself in a news release as a coalition of Penn students, staff, and faculty, along with other Philadelphia community members and students, and called the effort its “Gaza Solidarity Encampment.”

Penn said in a statement Thursday evening that it was “closely monitoring the encampment” and so far had “not received any reports of threatening or violent behavior by the protestors.”

Penn said in a statement early Thursday evening that it was “closely monitoring the encampment” and so far had “not received any reports of threatening or violent behavior by the protestors.”

But a spokesperson made clear the university would not tolerate protest or speech that violates the university’s policies, disrupts its business or causes an “intimidating, hostile, or violent environment.”

The university warned there would be consequences for violations.

About 10 tents were spread out in front of the lawn at Penn’s College Hall as students prepared to sleepover throughout the weekend.

Participants like Eliana, who declined to give her full name, citing privacy concerns, prepared for a weekend of studying and homework, setting up their backpacks next to a first aid station.

Eliana said she had a paper due Friday, as well as finals to study for, but she couldn't stand by and do nothing.

A faculty and student protest and walkout is underway at the University of Pennsylvania over Israel’s treatment of Gaza.

“Things have hit a climax and (this is) yet another way for us to condemn what’s happening and also put pressure on Penn to do right,” said Dagmawi Woubshet, an associate professor of English and a member of Penn Faculty for Justice in Palestine.

The group is calling on the university to disclose its financial holdings, and to divest from corporations profiting from Israel’s war in Gaza. Penn also must condemn Israel’s bombing and damaging of universities in Gaza and promise to defend its Palestinian students and their allies and provide amnesty to students facing disciplinary measures for their advocacy, he said.

The University of Southern California canceled its main stage graduation ceremony Thursday as college officials across the U.S. worried that ongoing campus protests against the Israel-Hamas war could disrupt May commencement ceremonies.

Some universities called in police to break up the demonstrations, resulting in ugly scuffles and dozens of arrests, while others appeared content to wait out student protests as the final days of the semester ticked down.

USC announced the cancellation of the May 10 ceremony a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested on campus. The university says it will still host dozens of commencement events, including all the traditional individual school commencement ceremonies where students cross a stage and receive their diplomas.

“I’m trying to be brave today,” said professor Eve Troutt Powell, who said she protested apartheid while graduating college in 1983. A Black woman, she described “watching racism unfold in Palestine” in a way only her grandmother could imagine.

Referring to Palestinian writers speaking up against Israel, Powell said, “Their words cannot be bombed away. You cannot murder the truth.”

“This is why universities are so crucial,” she said, criticizing donors like billionaire investor Marc Rowan, who led the pressure campaign that led to the resignations of former Penn president Liz Magill and board chair Scott Bok last year.

Hundreds of people waving Palestinian flags converged near the Button at the University of Pennsylvania shortly after 4 p.m.

“Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest,” they chanted, flanked by dozens of police on bikes.

Led by organizers shouting through bullhorns “Free Palestine!” the group clapped and cheered.

Over 100 protesters gathered at City Hall around 2 p.m. as part of a student-led demonstration against the war in Gaza amid escalating tensions on campuses nationwide.

The crowd plans to march a two-mile route through Center City and likely head toward University City, where other actions are planned this afternoon around the campus hub.

“One side’s right, the other side’s wrong,” one speaker chanted, warming up the crowd in front of the Octavius V. Catto Memorial.

The Princeton protest drew a small gathering of pro-Israel supporters and those who said they supported the university's containment of the encampment this morning.

Riva Levy, 60, stood with a group of around 10 other supporters, one who yelled out at pro-Palestinian protesters that the word intifada was a threat to Jews.

"Nothing is going to change in the Middle East until the hostages are free," said Levy, holding a sign depicting some of estimated 250 hostages taken on Oct. 7.

Gov. Josh Shapiro, in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, seemed poised to step into the spotlight again if protests became disruptive on Pennsylvania campuses. And potentially with force.

“If the universities in accordance with their policies can’t guarantee the safety and security and well-being of the students, then I think it is incumbent upon a local mayor or local governor or local town councilor, whoever is the local leadership there, to step in and enforce the law,” Shapiro told Politico.

Shapiro added that he feels a “unique responsibility to speak out when I see this level of antisemitism on our campuses and in our communities.”

The atmosphere was tense in an otherwise idyllic quad in the center of Princeton's campus as university police and someone who appeared to be associated with the Ivy League university led a Pulitzer Prize-winning Middle East correspondent away from the megaphone at the student rally for Gaza.

Students shouted "shame" and "let him speak" as Chris Hedges, formerly of the New York Times, was removed, an incident adding to the charged environment that saw over 200 students chanting "from the river to the sea" and other Pro-Palestinian slogans.

Two students were arrested Thursday morning "within minutes" of a small tent encampment being set up outside McCosh Hall, said Urbi, a Ph.D student from India who did not share her last name over concerns about her U.S. visa.

Under the watch of a handful of campus police officers, over 100 students and faculty members at Princeton University gathered on a lawn near the Ivy League institutions center to protest Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza.

A speaker said the gathering was "to stand up and call for an immediate and permanent cease fire in Gaza, "where Palestinians faced "unimaginable violence and terror."

"Long live the Palestinian people," the speaker said in a call and response with students. "This genocide, not in my name, not in your name, not in our name."

Princeton University is the latest local university to see pro-Palestinian student protesters erect tents on campus amid national debate over the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Calling it a “Gaza Solidarity encampment,” the group said in a press release that tents were set up about 7 a.m. Thursday at McCosh Courtyard on the Ivy League university’s campus.

“The students of Princeton University are rising up alongside campuses across the country to show university leadership and trustees to demand no rest until divest,” the group said.

The Philadelphia Police Department was monitoring the situation around potential university protests and encampments, department spokesperson Sgt. Eric Gripp said. He did not provide specifics on how many officers have been deployed to local colleges and universities.

“While we cannot divulge specific public safety plans - including deployment of resources — the PPD is committed to upholding the First Amendment rights of all Philadelphians, including those who choose to protest,” Gripp said in a statement. “However, we will also take necessary actions to ensure public safety and the free flow of traffic.”

“We encourage all Philadelphians to exercise their right to protest peacefully and lawfully, and will continue to collaborate with our university public safety partners,” he added. “The PPD remains committed to facilitating safe demonstrations while ensuring the safety of our residents and visitors.”

While Penn saw pro-Palestinian protests earlier this semester following the university’s tumultuous fall, there were no encampments or protests there Wednesday as officials planned for a “community listening session” dedicated to the conflict in the Middle East.

The session, which is open only to Penn students, faculty, and staff, is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday on campus.

Last weekend, the Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn’s student newspaper, reported that Penn had suspended the pro-Palestinian student group Penn Against the Occupation from campus.

Some U.S. universities called in police to break up demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war, resulting in ugly scuffles and dozens of arrests, while others appeared content to wait out student protests Thursday, as the final days of the semester ticked down and graduation ceremonies loomed.

At Emerson College in Boston, 108 people were arrested at an encampment overnight and four police officers suffered injuries that were not life-threatening, Boston police said. Those arrested were expected to appear Thursday in Boston Municipal Court.

Another 93 people were arrested Wednesday night during a protest at the University of Southern California, the Los Angeles Police Department said. There were no reports of injuries.