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Columbia students address 48-hour negotiation extension
Negotiations between protesters and officials at Columbia University about clearing the lawn with the encampment had been extended for48 hours.
Student protesters “won the concession that the university will not call law enforcement on our peaceful protests” early Wednesday, Khymani James, a student at Columbia, said during a news briefing Wednesday afternoon.
“While we have received written assurances that our encampment will continue, the university continues to make threats in its attempts to stifle its students’ political speech,” he said.
When asked by CNN about the written assurances, James said there was an update posted to the university’s website Wednesday morning.
There have been no public updates posted to the university’s website since Tuesday, according to a review by CNN.
In a statement to CNN early Wednesday, Columbia said "student protesters have committed to dismantling and removing a significant number of tents."
“That was a bad faith negotiation made before the university threatened to call the National Guard on us,” said another student protester, Basil Rodriguez.
Susan Ellingwood, AVP of public affairs at Columbia, said to CNN: “Deploying the National Guard was never on the table.”
When asked what protesters would say to students who say they feel unsafe on campus, Rodriguez said: "Listen to our demands."What the protesters are advocating for is “mutually beneficial to everyone” and “acting out of love,” Rodriguez said.
The situation at USC has deescalated after tense moments
From CNN's Nick Watt and Christina Zdanowicz
The scene at the University of Southern California's University Park campus has calmed after major activity erupted during a demonstration, according to CNN's Nick Watt, who is on the scene.
Tensions escalated when the USC Department of Public Safety started dismantling some tents on campus and people shouted "hands off," as seen by a CNN crew. Protesters surrounded a campus safety officer as he tried to remove a tent.
Minutes later, a crowd of protesters and media surrounded campus safety apprehending a man in a yellow vest, who appeared to be handcuffed and placed into a campus security vehicle.
Protesters crowded around the vehicle, chanting, "Let him go."
When campus security released the apprehended protester, the situation was diffused, according to Watt. Many tents have been cleared since then.
'We are not going anywhere until our demands are met,' Columbia protesters say
From CNN’s Celina Tebor and Ramishah Maruf
Columbia University student protesters said Wednesday they will not stop protesting until their demands to the university are fulfilled, and said they cannot confirm nor deny whether non-students are in the encampment on campus.
“We are not going anywhere. We are not going anywhere until our demands are met,” Khymani James, a student at Columbia, said during a news briefing Wednesday.
Student protesters were asked multiple times whether non-students were inside the encampment on Columbia’s campus.
“We cannot confirm or deny that,” James said. “What I will say is: a reminder that Columbia is an open campus."
Physical confrontations between students and police on UT-Austin campus
From CNN's Joe Sutton
There have been multiple confrontations between police officers, state troopers "in full riot gear with batons" and students on the University of Texas at Austin campus as officers continue to break up a pro-Palestinian protest Wednesday, Amelia Kimball, associate managing editor at The Daily Texan, told CNN News Central.
“Numerous arrests have been made, numerous students have been put in squad cars,” Kimball said.
In a live ground shot from CNN affiliate KEYE, a very large crowd of protesters can be seen along with police officers on the University of Texas at Austin campus.
Kimball described the event as a “severe escalation.”
During the interview, Kimball said there was a “physical clash” between students and police.In the live feed from KEYE, pushing and shoving could be seen between police and protesters.
The Austin Police Department is providing assistance to the University of Texas Police Department with transporting arrestees in relation to the incident on their campus after a request was made by UTPD, a spokesperson with APD told CNN in an email.
"The University of Texas has a dedicated police department that serves as the primary point of contact for any safety or security concerns on their campus," the email reads.
Tensions rise as protests over Israel-Hamas war on college campuses continue. Here's what to know
From CNN staff
Pro-Palestinian protestsare taking place at major American universities Wednesday.
The protesters and their supporters, including faculty in some cases, are condemning crackdowns on demonstrations and free speech. Some students, parents, donors and lawmakers are pleading with administrators to take new steps to restore order.
Demonstrations are ongoing at Columbia University, Brown University and other campuses.
Here's what has happened so far:
- Columbia University extended negotiations with student activists over the dismantling of their pro-Palestinian encampment, a spokesperson for the school said. It came after Columbia’s president said the university had given protesters a midnight deadline to reach an agreement or it would consider “alternative options” to clear the encampment. The university announced it ismoving to mostly hybrid classeson its main campus until the end of the semester, April 29.
- At Brown University, about 90 students were seen setting up an encampment and protest Wednesday morning, according to a university spokesperson, which is a "violation of University policy."
- Two people were arrested during a protest at Ohio State University, according to a university spokesperson. Asked if OSU would consider the students’ demands for divestment from Israel, spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said state law prohibits it.
- At the University of Texas at Austin, Texas State Police were seen pushing back pro-Palestinian protesters, as witnessed by CNN affiliate KEYE. Texas state troopers were in riot gear, including some on horseback. The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Austin organized the walkout and occupation on the school's South Lawn.
- A demonstration is also happening at the University of Southern California. There is "significant activity" happening around the University Park Campus, according to an alert sent by the school.
- Reaction: The Biden administration said it is monitoring campus protests closely, according to White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates. He underscored that President Joe Biden supports the right to protest peacefully but condemned what he called “alarming rhetoric” at some student demonstrations. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant called the protests "antisemitic," according to a post on social media.
- Lawmakers weigh in: House Speaker Mike Johnson and some New York Republicans will visit with Jewish students at Columbia University on Wednesday, his office said. He will call on Columbia president Minouche Shafik to resign after failing to crack down on the protests, he said on a radio show. Some Republican lawmakers have also called for the National Guard to respond to protests at the school.
"Tense interactions" and "physical struggles" erupt at UT-Austin campusamid pro-Palestinian protest
From Ashley Killough in Dallas
Texas State troopers in riot gear, including some on horseback, began breaking up a group of pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Texas at Austin shortly after ademonstration began Wednesday.
The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Austin organized the walkout and occupation on the school's South Lawn. According to an Instagram post announcing the event, students were encouraged to bring "blankets, food and water, face masks, and lots of energy."
Amelia Kimball, associate managing editor at The Daily Texan, told CNN there were no plans for an encampment like on other university campuses across the country.
Kimballsaid students gathered in a central area of campus and within minutes were ordered to disperse. Kimball said she's seen law enforcement form multiple blockades in the area to keep the crowd dispersed.
She also described "tense interactions" and "physical struggles between police and students." Some of those scenes, including an arrest, were captured by CNN affiliate KEYE.
"I don't think students were expecting this kind of a response," she said on CNN, saying some students have spread out while others remain in the crowd.
Kimball said she started noticing a large law enforcement presence earlier in the day before the protest began.
CNN has reached out to the Texas Department of Public Safety, the University of Texas and Austin Police.
USC says there is "significant activity" on campus amid protest
From CNN's Chandelis Duster
There is "significant activity" at the University of Southern California's University Park Campus due to a demonstration, according to an alert sent by the school on Wednesday.
"There may be difficulty accessing that area," according to the school.
Tuesday's protest on campus was peaceful this morning and protesters had set up tents, according to CNN's Nick Watt, who is on the scene.
Police seen pushing back protesters at University of Texas at Austin
From CNN's Christina Zdanowicz
Texas State Police were seen pushing back pro-Palestinian protesters on the University of Texas at Austin campus Wednesday afternoon, as witnessed by CNN affiliate KEYE.
Footage aired on CNN showed a chaotic scene, with what appeared to be shouts of “disperse” from law enforcement officers and a large crowd of student protesters shouting back.
“There does seem to be some escalating levels of distress, and protesters are continuing to chant, and the police are forming multiple blockades to keep protesters from moving,” Amelia Kimball, associate managing editor at The Daily Texan, said on air with CNN.
Secretary Buttigieg urges campus protesters to demonstrate "safely"
From CNN's Sam Fossum
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg reacted Wednesday to the ongoing pro-Palestinian protests that are taking place on university campuses across the country, calling for protesters to “safely” make their voices heard.
He also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between peaceful protests and harassment.
“It is important when people are exercising those rights to free speech, to protest, to assembly, that they do so safely,” Buttigieg said on Fox News Wednesday afternoon, adding later: “We have to make a distinction between what is legitimate free speech, inquiry, protest, debate, ferociously contested ideas. That’s one thing. And of course, also a recognition of the pain that is driving so much of the passion around the issues in the Middle East.”
Buttigieg also condemned any expressions of antisemitism or threats of physical violence or harm against Jewish students.
“Any expression of antisemitism or hatred is unconscionable, it must be called out, it must be confronted. And that’s certainly what President Biden has done in unambiguous terms,” Buttigieg said, continuing: “Especially disturbing [is] the idea that a student would be targeted and harassed simply because they are Jewish, or simply because they look Jewish.”
