• Video
  • Shop
  • Culture
  • Family
  • Wellness
  • Food
  • Living
  • Style
  • Travel
  • News
  • Book Club
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • Terms of Use
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Contact Us
  • © 2026 ABC News
ABC News

College protests updates: Police begin dismantling University of Chicago encampment

PHOTO: A police officer stands guard blocking pro-Palestinian protesters from returning to their encampment as the encampment is dismantled at the University of Chicago, Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
4:45
Charles Rex Arbogast/AP
How student journalists are covering pro-Palestine college protests
By Nadine El-Bawab, Bill Hutchinson, Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: April 29, 2024, 5:56 PM

Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.

The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.

Latest headlines:

  • Over 300 Harvard professors sign letter urging Harvard to negotiate with protesters
  • Police begin dismantling encampment at University of Chicago
  • MIT students ordered to leave campus encampment
  • More than 60 arrests made at UC San Diego
  • Harvard president threatens 'involuntary leave' for students who continue encampment
Here's how the news is developing.

Apr 29, 2024 5:56 PM

Cal Poly Humboldt campus leaders offer escorts to concerned students

Cal Poly Humboldt said it will close off campus to non-school members through May 10 as protesters have occupied two buildings.

Campus leaders also said it will now offer escorts off campus to anyone who feels their safety is threatened.

PHOTO: Pro-Palestinian protesters stand off with police on the campus of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in Arcata, Calif., April 22, 2024.
Andrew Goff/AP
Pro-Palestinian protesters stand off with police on the campus of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in Arcata, Calif., April 22, 2024.
Andrew Goff/AP

The school urged the protesters who have been occupying Siemens Hall and Nelson Hall East since last week to leave immediately.

"Leaving voluntarily will be considered as a possible mitigating factor in University conduct processes and may reduce the severity of sanctions imposed. This does not, however, eliminate responsibility for any potential conduct or criminal charges."

-ABC News' Bonnie McLean


Apr 29, 2024 4:23 PM

UGA arrests protesters after 'crossing a line,' blocking sidewalks

The University of Georgia-Athens said protesters who set up an encampment on campus "crossed a line" Monday morning and several were arrested.

Approximately "25 protesters began erecting tents and a barricade, blocking sidewalks and building entrances and using amplified sound," school spokesman Greg Trevor said in a statement.

The protesters met with university police and student affairs members to discuss the violation and were given multiple warnings to remove the barriers, but they refused, according to Trevor.

"At 8:30 a.m., UGA Police were left with no choice but to arrest those who refused to comply," he said.

The school did not specify how many people were arrested.

"While we must provide ample opportunity for protected expressive activities, we also have the right and duty to regulate the time, place and manner in which they occur," Trevor said.

-ABC News' Ahmad Hemingway


Apr 29, 2024 3:11 PM

Columbia tells protesters to leave encampment by 2 p.m.

Columbia University has distributed a letter to members of the encampment on campus telling them to gather their belongings and leave the area by 2 p.m., saying if they identify themselves and sign a form "to abide by all University policies through June 30, 2025, or the date of the conferral of your degree, whichever is earlier, you will be eligible to complete the semester in good standing."

The school said it has "already identified many students in the encampment" and "if you do not identify yourself upon leaving and sign the form now, you will not be eligible to sign and complete the semester in good standing." The school warned it could take action up to suspension or expulsion if they do not leave the encampment.

PHOTO: Students at Columbia University paint a response to a message written by Palestinians thanking students for their support as they continue to maintain a protest encampment on campus in support of Palestinians, in New York City, April 28, 2024.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters
Students at Columbia University paint a response to a message written by Palestinians in Rafah thanking students for their support as they continue to maintain a protest encampment on campus in support of Palestinians, during the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in New York City, April 28, 2024.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters

The school reiterated that negotiations with protesters had broken down and said the protests are a "disruption" to those taking final exams and preparing for graduation.

"As you are probably aware, the dialogue between the University and student leaders of the encampment is, regrettably, at an impasse," the letter states. "The current unauthorized encampment and disruption on Columbia University’s campus is creating an unwelcoming environment for members of our community. External actors have also contributed to this environment, especially around our gates, causing safety concerns – including for our neighbors."



Apr 29, 2024 1:09 PM

Columbia cannot come to agreement with protesters, president says

Protesters at Columbia University, who sparked many of the protests across the nation earlier this month, are now being asked to voluntarily disperse after the school's president said it was not able to come to an agreement through negotiations.

Since Wednesday, "a small group of academic leaders has been in constructive dialogue with student organizers to find a path that would result in the dismantling of the encampment and adherence to University policies going forward. Regretfully, we were not able to come to an agreement," Columbia President Minouche Shafik said in a statement Monday morning.

PHOTO: The pro-Palestinian encampment at the Columbia University on April 28, 2024, in New York City.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images
The pro-Palestinian encampment at the Columbia University on April 28, 2024, in New York City.
Charly Triballeau/AFP via Getty Images

One of the top demands of the protesters, for Columbia to divest from Israel, was flatly denied by the university, according to the statement.

The school asked protesters, who number in the hundreds, to voluntarily disperse, but offered no explanation for what would happen if they did not. The school said it did not "want to deprive thousands of students and their families and friends of a graduation celebration." The school's graduation ceremony is set to be held May 15.

"We urge those in the encampment to voluntarily disperse," Shafik wrote. "We are consulting with a broader group in our community to explore alternative internal options to end this crisis as soon as possible. We will continue to update the community with new developments."


May 02, 2024 12:55 AM

'This is just the beginning': Columbia and CUNY students vow to keep 'fighting'

During a press conference on Wednesday evening, student protestors from Columbia University and City University of New York responded to the intervention of the NYPD to dismantle encampments and suspend and arrest hundreds of protesters across both universities last night and today.

"We will not stop fighting. This is just the beginning," Cameron Jones of Columbia’s Justice for Palestine chapter said.

PHOTO: Students with the Gaza Solidarity Encampment break the doors to the entrance of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University after taking it over, in New York City, April 30. 2024.
Marco Postigo Storel via AP
Students with the Gaza Solidarity Encampment break the doors to the entrance of Hamilton Hall at Columbia University after taking it over, in New York City, April 30. 2024.
Marco Postigo Storel via AP

Corinna Mullin, a member of CUNY faculty, joined the press conference and called the students "brave" and said that the administration actions against its own students was "shameful."

The students from Columbia and CUNY vowed to continue their efforts, saying, "The more they will try to silence us, the louder we will be."

-ABC News' Camilla Alcini


GMA Newsletters

Sign up for our newsletters to get GMA delivered to your inbox every morning!

Up Next in news

PHOTO: Koa Smith spoke to ABC News after he was bitten by a shark in the waters off the south shore of Oahu.

Oahu man speaks out after being bitten by a shark while surfing

June 4, 2026
PHOTO: Los Angeles City Council member and mayoral candidate Nithya Raman in Los Angeles, May 16, 2026. Spencer Pratt campaigns for mayor in Los Angeles, May 31, 2026. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass speaks to supporters, May 31, 2026, in Venice, Calif.

Karen Bass advances in Los Angeles mayoral race as opponent currently remains unclear

June 3, 2026
PHOTO: Pattie Gonia performs at the "Save Her! Environmental Drag Show" during Climate Week, Sept. 24, 2024, in New York City.

Drag queen Pattie Gonia publicly rejects proposal from Patagonia on trademark lawsuit

June 2, 2026

The latest lifestyle and entertainment news and inspiration for how to live your best life - all from Good Morning America.
  • Contests
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • Children’s Online Privacy Policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Press
  • Feedback
  • Shop FAQs
  • ABC News
  • ABC
  • All Videos
  • All Topics
  • Sitemap

© 2026 ABC News
  • Privacy Policy— 
  • Your US State Privacy Rights— 
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy— 
  • Interest-Based Ads— 
  • Terms of Use— 
  • Do Not Sell My Info— 
  • Contact Us— 

© 2026 ABC News