WASHINGTON — Protests surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict expanded overnight on the campus of George Washington University. Students from the university, as well as neighboring universities, have been protesting in tents since late last week.
Students set up the encampment at University Yard on Thursday morning, calling it "Students All Out For Gaza." Tents were set up around 6 a.m., and protesters were seen on campus with signs, chanting, drumming, and flying Palestinian flags. Students from American University, Gallaudet University, George Mason University, Georgetown, and Howard were all present at the protest.
Student organizers say they have very specific demands. They want each of the universities to divest from any businesses aiding Israel in the ongoing war in Gaza. They are also asking for all speech in support of Palestine to be protected on campus and charges against pro-Palestinian student organizers to be dropped.
By Monday morning, tents had spilled out of the University Yard area and were set up in the street.
George Washington University staff had set up barricades around University Yard to restrict access to the encampment, but those barricades were torn down overnight Sunday into Monday morning.
By the afternoon, students had piled them in the center of the University Yard and planted a Palestinian flag in the middle.
Sophomore Reem hopes their message has become clear to those watching.
"I hope they take away the resolve to stand up and fight back against the genocide that is happening in Gaza right now," she said.
Student journalists with the GW Hatchet report at least seven students had been suspended as a result of the protest and are facing misconduct charges.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser says Metropolitan Police have not taken any action because the protests have remained peaceful.
"We did not have any violence to interrupt," she said at a press conference on Monday.
"It is a peaceful protest. Police have no reason to get involved. I think it, actually, it illustrates how comically evil our administration is that even MPD has refused to exact the level of repression," said Reem.
H Street between 19th and 21st is currently closed because of tents in the street.
Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have popped up on an increasing number of college campuses following last week's arrest of more than 100 demonstrators at Columbia University.
RELATED: No, the National Guard was not deployed to pro-Palestine protests at the University of Texas
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