LIVE UPDATES: Several detained during protest in support of Gaza at UT campus
This story is being continually updated in a live blog toward the bottom of the article. Check back for updates.
AUSTIN (Nexstar) — Several people have been detained at the University of Texas at Austin's campus as people gathered at a protest Wednesday in support of Gaza.
KXAN reached out to law enforcement and is working to get more information on the detainments. We will update this story when we receive a response.
The Palestinian Solidarity Committee of Austin organized the protest, directing students to walk out of class at 11:40 a.m. and occupy the lawn until past 7 p.m. Wednesday.
"In the footsteps of our comrades at Columbia SJP, Rutgers-New Brunswick, Yale, and countless others across the nation, we will be establishing THE POPULAR UNIVERSITY FOR GAZA and demanding our administration divest from death," a PSC social media post said.
The protest follows days of tense encounters between students and police during protests on Ivy League campuses, shining a national spotlight on the cultural and political rifts on campuses and sparking debate about the appropriate limits to free assembly.
The university sent a letter to the organizers Tuesday night telling them to cancel the event.
The University of Texas at Austin must first and foremost act to protect our educational mission, allowing the activities and operations that support our mission to proceed. At the same time, we are steadfast in our support of free speech. Our policies and rules help define the lines between these objectives and shape our response to planned protests.
The Palestine Solidarity Committee student organization's event "Popular University for Gaza," which is planned for tomorrow, has declared intent to violate our policies and rules, and disrupt our campus operations. Such disruptions are never allowed and are especially damaging while our students prepare for the end of the semester and final exams. For these reasons, this event may not proceed as planned.
Simply put the University of Texas at Austin will not allow this campus to be "taken" and protesters to derail our mission in ways that groups affiliated with your national organizations have accomplished elsewhere.
Please be advised that you are not permitted to hold your event on the University campus. Any attempt to do so will subject your organization and its attending members to discipline including suspension under the Institutional Rules. Individuals not affiliated with the University and attempting to attend this event will be directed to leave campus. Refusal to comply may result in arrest.
Office of the Dean of Students
UT Austin's Jewish student organization, Texas Hillel, accused Wednesday's protest of promoting a "hateful agenda" by coinciding with Passover.
"The University has assured us there will be no tolerance for disruption or behaviors misaligned with University policy," a Hillel statement said.
KXAN is on campus to cover the day's events, and KXAN's Ryan Chandler is providing updates on X.
This story is continually being updated in the live blog below.
4:02 p.m.
DPS troopers with shields arrive at the protest area.
More DPS troopers just arrived. They are forming up on the north side of the area they have blocked off. Many have shields. @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/DWPipAXY3g
— Nabil Brent Remadna KXAN (@RemadnaKXAN) April 24, 2024
4:01 p.m.
Nexstar reporter Monica Madden, reporting from the protest, says that the chanting has changed from pro-Palestine messages to "off our campus," in response to the large DPS presence.
At this moment in time, many of the student protestors appear more angered by police presence on @UTAustin campus than the conflict in Israel-Gaza itself. Big shift in the chanting has primarily been to “off our campus” rather than previous pro-Palestine chanting. Keep… pic.twitter.com/ENUYvjFq64
— Monica Madden (@themonicamadden) April 24, 2024
3:51 p.m.
The UT Division of Student Affairs issued the following statement:
“UT Austin does not tolerate disruptions of campus activities or operations like we have seen at other campuses. This is an important time in our semester with students finishing classes and studying for finals and we will act first and foremost to allow those critical functions to proceed without interruption.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott also commented on the protest, calling for the protestors to be jailed.
Arrests being made right now & will continue until the crowd disperses.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) April 24, 2024
These protesters belong in jail.
Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.
Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled. https://t.co/XhLlQdvUl0
3:40 p.m.
A large number of DPS vehicles were seen traveling to Austin from Houston on I-35, per a picture sent to KXAN. Sources tell KXAN that the additional resources were requested for the UT Austin protest.
NEW: Sources tell @KXAN_News Texas DPS sent state troopers from Houston to Austin to handle the UT protest.
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
A long line of them heading towards the city:@hueyjayd pic.twitter.com/51wnM7F5MP
3:37 p.m.
Austin Council Member Mackenzie Kelly issued the following statement:
3:34 p.m.
Nabil Remadna said mounted units are arriving. He said the protest is peaceful and chanting is picking up.
More from the protest at the University of Texas in support of Palestine. Mounted units just arrived. Still peaceful, but chanting is picking up. @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/URTv1Hzdfw
— Nabil Brent Remadna KXAN (@RemadnaKXAN) April 24, 2024
3:33 p.m.
The Austin Police Department tells KXAN that it is assisting UT Police with the transport of arrested people from the UT Austin campus, after UT Police asked for aid.
3:29 p.m.
Texas Senator Ted Cruz commented on the protest on social media, calling it "antisemitic."
These nationwide antisemitic protests are disgraceful.
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) April 24, 2024
They do not represent Texas or the views of Texans.
No Jewish student should ever have their safety threatened.
I’m glad that UT Police & Texas DPS are responding to this situation with the seriousness it deserves. https://t.co/TUs0BDbw0V
3:29 p.m.
Mounted DPS troopers ride horses into the protest area, per KXAN reporter Grace Reader.
Mounted patrol just made their way to the grass area in the middle of protesters. pic.twitter.com/MQlVr7vPbA
— Grace Reader (@GraceReaderTV) April 24, 2024
3:20 p.m.
KXAN reporter Nabil Ramadna, who is at the scene at the South Mall on campus, said there is a very large gathering of people chanting.
A very large gathering continues on the South Mall at the University of Texas. While some students have been detained at this point there is a lot of chanting. Stick with @KXAN_News pic.twitter.com/6e2EAKWJWr
— Nabil Brent Remadna KXAN (@RemadnaKXAN) April 24, 2024
3:16 p.m.
Austin Council Member Vanessa Fuentes responded to the protest, calling the law enforcement presence on campus "a needless escalation."
Suppressing peaceful protest with intimidation is a needless escalation. We deserve an explanation for why such extreme actions are being taken to suppress the voices of seemingly peaceful protestors. Do better, UT. https://t.co/WBHzccdzRK
— Vanessa Fuentes ???????? (@VanessaForATX) April 24, 2024
2:48 p.m.
Ryan Chandler, who is at the scene, said there were at least 10 people detained.
This is around detention #10 https://t.co/PHzdImQGKq pic.twitter.com/qqtgDqjrhZ
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
2:28 p.m.
DPS says protesters' presence on campus is considered criminal trespassing and anyone who doesn't leave will be detained.
DPS announces their presence is criminal trespass and anyone who doesn’t leave will be arrested. This is on the main lawn on Texas’ flagship public university pic.twitter.com/0HZ1AW9PBf
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
2:20 p.m.
Police attempt to push the crowd back and detain at least one person in the process.
Police attempt to push the crowd, arresting one.
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
This is happening directly under the UT Tower. Went here for 4 years, never saw anything like this. pic.twitter.com/EaYBphtTzh
2:15 p.m.
The protest has tripled in size within the last two hours. Protesters were moved off of the South Lawn, but people are setting up tents.
This protest has at least tripled in size in the last two hours. The university banned them from protesting on this South Lawn, but they are setting up tents. Law enforcement having a hard time breaking it up. pic.twitter.com/KVqRDJL2Qh
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
2:09 p.m.
Austin Council Member Zo Qadri issues a statement about the protest:
1:56 p.m.
Ryan Chandler, who is at the scene, says it has gotten "exponentially more violent and out of control" since DPS troopers began dispersing the crowd. At least five people have been detained at this point.
This has gotten exponentially more violent and out of control since DPS began dispersing protestors. At least 5 arrested now. Watch: pic.twitter.com/7k737dYdJh
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
1:51 p.m.
UT Police post on social media that there is "police activity" near the South Mall and ask people to avoid the area.
1:24 p.m.
DPS confirms at least four people have been detained.
1:14 p.m.
People at the protest and DPS stand off on the main drag of campus.
UT Austin right now. Protesters and DPS in a standoff on the main drag of campus pic.twitter.com/OipxvXDbWC
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
1:13 p.m.
Ryan Chandler reports from the scene that campus is "chaos," and DPS troopers have started forcefully dispersing protesters, detaining at least one person.
12:32 p.m.
DPS gives protesters a two-minute warning to disperse.
12:30 p.m.
Police have pushed those gathered to protest to the corner of campus by the Brazos garage, moving them away from their intended meeting location of South Lawn.
12:20 p.m.
DPS appears to be preparing to disperse crowds with many troopers dressed in riot gear.
DPS appears to be prepping to disperse with a heavy, heavy showing of DPS troopers prepped in riot gear. pic.twitter.com/xJ1jZlNRjy
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
12:09 p.m.
A heavy presence of DPS bikers, mounted patrol, and UTPD work to keep protesters from their intended destination of the South Lawn.
Heavy presence of DPS bikers, mounted, and UTPD keeping the protesters from their intended destination of South Lawn pic.twitter.com/C8kS69Elp6
— Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024
11:54 a.m.
Protesters start gathering on campus. University Police and Department of Public Safety Troopers begin walling off protesters' intended gathering area on the South Lawn, not letting others in.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.