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After a pro-Palestinian protest that began over a week ago shut down Cal Poly Humboldt’s campus for the rest of the semester, the university said Tuesday that about 35 people were arrested as law enforcement cleared out two buildings where protesters were holed up. Several dozen protesters occupied two of the university’s buildingson April 22 and eventually forced the closure of the campus through May 10, which is when the semester ends. Cal Poly Humboldt also reported theft and vandalism and said it offered protesters the chance to leave the buildings with no threat of arrest by last Friday.”What was occurring was not free expression or a protest,” a statement from the university read. “It was criminal activity, and there were serious concerns it would spread even further on campus.”On Tuesday around 2:30 a.m., the university said law enforcement began clearing out Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East and the surrounding area. On-campus residents were told to shelter in place in advance. All people arrested were arrested without incident and without injury.The charges include unlawful assembly, vandalism, conspiracy and the assault of police officers, the university said. Students and staff arrested could also be disciplined further.Law enforcement personnel from across the state carried out the clearing of the protesters under the leadership of Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal and University Police Department Chief Peter Cress.“The University Police Department is deeply grateful to the local and statewide agencies that lent support to our campus during this event,” Cress said in a statement. “The support was critical in restoring an environment on campus where learning and work occur safely.”The campus will remain closed through May 10, the university said. Any university employees will also be contacted by their supervisors if they are authorized to be on campus.The university has also responded to several demands made by protesters. Read through the demands and responses here.The campus will remain closed through May 10, the university said. Any university employees will also be contacted by their supervisors if they are authorized to be on campus.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
ARCATA, Calif. —
After a pro-Palestinian protest that began over a week ago shut down Cal Poly Humboldt’s campus for the rest of the semester, the university said Tuesday that about 35 people were arrested as law enforcement cleared out two buildings where protesters were holed up.
Several dozen protesters occupied two of the university’s buildingson April 22 and eventually forced the closure of the campus through May 10, which is when the semester ends. Cal Poly Humboldt also reported theft and vandalism and said it offered protesters the chance to leave the buildings with no threat of arrest by last Friday.
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“What was occurring was not free expression or a protest,” a statement from the university read. “It was criminal activity, and there were serious concerns it would spread even further on campus.”
On Tuesday around 2:30 a.m., the university said law enforcement began clearing out Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East and the surrounding area. On-campus residents were told to shelter in place in advance. All people arrested were arrested without incident and without injury.
The charges include unlawful assembly, vandalism, conspiracy and the assault of police officers, the university said. Students and staff arrested could also be disciplined further.
Law enforcement personnel from across the state carried out the clearing of the protesters under the leadership of Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal and University Police Department Chief Peter Cress.
“The University Police Department is deeply grateful to the local and statewide agencies that lent support to our campus during this event,” Cress said in a statement. “The support was critical in restoring an environment on campus where learning and work occur safely.”
The campus will remain closed through May 10, the university said. Any university employees will also be contacted by their supervisors if they are authorized to be on campus.
The university has also responded to several demands made by protesters. Read through the demands and responses here.
The campus will remain closed through May 10, the university said. Any university employees will also be contacted by their supervisors if they are authorized to be on campus.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
(source)