Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protestors started setting up an encampment on North Campus Wednesday afternoon, but tore down their tents after law enforcement ordered them to do so.
Demonstrators — largely but not entirely UB students — marched from The Commons, through the academic spine, to Capen Hall at around 3 p.m. They started setting up tents and other camping equipment on the lawn between Hochstetter Hall and Capen Hall.
University Police — as well as law enforcement officers from the Erie County Sheriff’s Department, Kenmore Police, Amherst Police, New York State Police and Tonawanda Police — ordered the protestors to remove the tents within 15 minutes to comply with a university policy from 2020 that prohibits indoor and outdoor encampments.
The protest comes after 282 people were arrested in a raid on the protestors at Columbia University and City College of New York (CCNY) Tuesday night.
Encampments and protests have been popping up on college campuses throughout the nation. UCLA canceled classes, and Columbia University moved to remote learning in response to demonstrations on their campuses. Other universities, like Brown, have struck deals with protesters to at least consider divesting from Israel.
The university said in a statement that protestors have until sunset to clear out of the area.
The protest remained peaceful for several hours. Police from multiple departments raided the protestors at 8:22 p.m. According to a statement from a UB spokesperson, “approximately 16 people were arrested— including some UB students and other individuals not affiliated with the University at Buffalo.” Many of those arrested were taken away on UB Stampede buses. One arrested protestor was taken to the hospital for an arm injury. Counter-protestors were present as well as dozens of observers. After about 25 minutes of confrontation, both protestors and police began to disperse.
Stay tuned to The Spectrum for more information.
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief and can be reached at grant.ashley@ubspectrum.com
Darcy Winter is the fact-checker and can be reached at darcy.winter@ubspectrum.com
Grant Ashley is the editor in chief of The Spectrum. He's also reported for NPR, WBFO, WIVB and The Buffalo News. He enjoys taking long bike rides, baking with his parents’ ingredients and recreating Bob Ross paintings in crayon. He can be found on the platform formerly known as Twitter at @Grantrashley.
