Philadelphia Police arrested several protesters on the University of Pennsylvania campus. This Friday morning, police officers began the dismantling of the camps of pro-Palestinian vandals at university facilities.
“Penn’s here operating. We’re here to support.” @PhillyPolice commissioner Kevin Bethel told me as arrests continue on campus of University of Pennsylvania campus ending encampment. pic.twitter.com/e5FCs5Ut1i
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) May 10, 2024
Videos posted on social media showed how police began to remove protesters from the university.
According to various media outlets, many of the vandals ran to escape while others chained themselves to a statue of Benjamin Franklin located in the university quad.
First arrests of protesters being made now. pic.twitter.com/XgpavdtNw9
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) May 10, 2024
The police gave the protesters two minutes to vacate the scene. After making the announcement with a megaphone, the officers began the arrests. Likewise, some of the protesters were wearing turbans called kufia, a headscarf common in the Middle East and linked to the Palestinian cause.
One arrested was carried out by four officers. pic.twitter.com/SdxwldtbZO
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) May 10, 2024
The police carried out the arrests the after Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro described the situation at the university as "unstable" and "unacceptable."
"It is past time for the university to act, to address this, to disband the encampment and to restore order and safety on campus," Governor Shapiro said Thursday in statements reported by 6ABC
