TEMPE, Ariz. — Police are on guard and barricades remain in place on Arizona State University’s Tempe campus, following a night of unrest, with pro-Palestinian protesters refusing not leave campus until their demands were met.
12News cameras were rolling as DPS troopers and ASU police officers cleared an encampment and arrested dozens of protesters.
Here’s a breakdown of the tense sequence of events that unfolded from Friday morning into the early morning hours of Saturday.
At 8:45 a.m. Friday morning, pro-Palestinian protesters started gathering in front of ASU’s Old Main in Tempe, vowing to stay put. They brought in pallets of food and water and pitched tents.
Protesters demanded a public list of any ASU investments and for ASU to divest itself from any Israeli company.
Some protesters were also calling for the resignation of ASU president Michael Crow and the abolition of the ASU and Tempe police departments.
At 9:09 a.m. on Friday, cell phone footage shows police arresting one of three people charged with criminal trespassing.
By 9:13 a.m. police moved in and tore down tents, saying the lawn is reserved space and tents were not allowed.
At 10:15 a.m. a few counter-protestors showed up with Israeli flags, saying the past seven months have been extremely aggressive and they have not felt the same safety and security as they did before.
For hours the situation remained calm, but later in the day, protesters were seen linking arms.
At 4:43 p.m. police were working to separate pro-Palestinian protestors and Israeli protesters.
By 10 p.m. the protest was stretching into its 14th hour and protesters were refusing to take down the tents.
When police officers attempted to take down the tents, protesters responded by putting up even more.
At 11:15 p.m. officers and DPS troopers arrived in riot gear.
At midnight, they started to clear empty tents and detain protestors.
The sweep began after law enforcement declared the protests an unlawful assembly.
12News crews captured video of protesters being escorted out of the area, away with their hands zip-tied behind their back.
Police took them to a bus parked on College Avenue that they used as a processing station.
By 1:45 a.m. Saturday morning, police broke up the final group of protesters.
At 6:30 a.m. 12News crews could see very few officers near Old Main, but the barricades remained in place.
ASU police reported a total of 72 arrests for trespassing, after setting up an unauthorized encampment in violation by university policy.
According to the university - demonstrations, protests, and expressions of free speech are protected at ASU, but demonstrations cannot disrupt campus operations.
Lawful demonstrations can take place, except overnight between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
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