TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State University police arrested 72 people on Friday and early Saturday morning for setting up a "prohibited" encampment on the school grounds, officials with the university said.
The university said most of those who set up the encampment were not ASU students, staff or faculty.
Police moved through the lawn in front of ASU's Old Main early Saturday morning, clearing out pro-Palestinian protesters who had begun gathering there Friday morning.
Three people were arrested on Friday morning, 69 people were arrested early Saturday morning when police broke up the protest.
ASU released the following statement on Saturday night:
ASU Police arrested 72 people for trespassing after they set up an unauthorized encampment Friday, in violation of university policy. Encampments are prohibited on Arizona State University property. Lawful demonstrations can take place except overnight between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
A group of people – most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff – created an encampment and demonstration that continued until well past 11 p.m. when the group was instructed repeatedly to disperse. Individuals who refused to leave after numerous warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass. Of the 72 arrested throughout the day Friday, 15 were ASU students; about 80 percent of those arrested were not students.
While the university will continue to be an environment that embraces freedom of speech, ASU’s first priority is to create a safe and secure environment that supports teaching and learning.
The protest was similar — though smaller and much less violent — than protests at other universities around the country such as Columbia University in New York City and the University of Texas in Austin, Texas. Protesters at ASU had vowed to stay in front of Old Main, going so far as to bring in pallets of food and water and erect tents, until their demands were met.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Protesta en el campus de Tempe de ASU provoca investigación policial y también arrestos
Protesters demanded a public list of any ASU investments and for ASU to divest itself from any Israeli company. Some protesters also called for the resignation of university president Michael Crow and the abolition of the ASU and Tempe police departments.
ASU police, assisted by Arizona Department of Public Safety troopers, moved where they had been observing the protests from the fringes of the lawn around midnight. They went around, rousing people from tents, dragging empty tents away and detaining those on the lawn. 12News captured video of protesters being walked away with their hands zip-tied behind their back. They were led to a bus parked on College Avenue that police were using as a processing station.
The final group of protesters was broken up around 1:45 a.m.
As of 3:40 a.m., Saturday, the lawn was empty and barricades stood in front of the university's sign on University Avenue.
Three people had been arrested earlier in the day: Michael Clancy, Harry Smith and William Whitmore. All were charged with criminal trespassing.
The people who were arrested began being released from jail around 8 p.m. on Saturday night. 12News was there and spoke to one woman, who only wanted to be identified as Sarah, who said she was at the protest on Friday, but left before police stepped in.
"Really, honestly, (I'm) just sad for everything that's going on for a peaceful protest," Sarah said. "I was there all day and the consistent message all day was we are there to promote peace to fight for all the Palestinian lives that've been lost and are in danger and we just want them to be safe. So to have people arrested who are fighting for just safety is heartbreaking."
A group of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside of ASU's Gammage Auditorium near the intersection of Apache Drive and Mill Avenue, but there were no issues and the protest was peaceful.
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell issued a statement Saturday evening saying her office will continue to monitor the investigation into this protest:
The courts, not the County Attorney, makes the decision whether probable cause exists in these cases; the court also sets what it believes is appropriate bail. No charging decisions have been made yet. I take this situation very seriously and intend to continue to monitor each case closely. The people involved must be held accountable for their actions.
The sweep began after law enforcement declared the protests an unlawful assembly. Earlier, the university had issued the following statement:
"Arizona State University Police arrested individuals for setting up an unauthorized encampment, in violation of university policy and the ABOR Student Code of Conduct. Encampments and unlawful assembly are prohibited on Arizona State University property unless they are part of a university-sanctioned activity. Individuals found setting up unapproved encampments will be directed to dismantle them immediately and failure to comply may result in arrest. ASU is committed to maintaining a secure environment for everyone."
Even earlier, while the protesters were setting up on the lawn in daylight, the university had issued a statement about free speech:
Demonstrations, protests and expressions of free speech are protected at Arizona State University, consistent with the First Amendment. Peaceful expression of views is always acceptable – but demonstrations cannot disrupt university operations. ASU is committed to maintaining a secure environment for everyone.
Editor's note: A previous version of this story said Tempe police were arresting people at ASU but Tempe police only provided transportation for those arrested.
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