Police detain dozens of 'Gaza solidarity' protesters at UNC tent encampment

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — UNC-Chapel Hill police detained members of a pro-Palestinian “Gaza solidarity encampment” early Tuesday morning after warning the group to remove its tents from university grounds or face possible arrest, suspension or expulsion from the university.

UNC interim Chancellor Lee Roberts and Provost Chris Clemens announced in a statement at 5:37 a.m. that the protesters “must remove all tents, tables, and other items and depart from the area” of the encampment — Polk Place, the university’s main quad in the central part of campus.

“Failure to follow this order to disperse will result in consequences including possible arrest, suspension from campus and, ultimately, expulsion from the university, which may prevent students from graduating,” Roberts and Clemens stated.

In a news release, the university said campus police “calmly approached the group” at 6 a.m. and detained about 30 people who refused to leave.

“During that time, the protesters attempted to block the UNC Police vehicles by standing in front of them and throwing items at officers,” the UNC release stated. “Polk Place was cleared in approximately 45 minutes. Afterwards, UNC Facilities cleared the area of significant debris.

“After the area was cleared, the remaining protesters escalated their tactics, attempting to forcibly enter South Building by pushing officers and refusing to comply with requests from Facilities and UNC Police,” the release stated.

The UNC chapter of Students for Justice for Palestine, meanwhile, tweeted that people were “violently arrested.”

Which police were involved?

Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies helped UNC Police with safety, security and transport for those arrested to the magistrate’s office in Hillsborough, according to spokeswoman Alicia Stemper.

The arrested “students and community members” were released, according to social-media posts by Students for Justice for Palestine, which initially organized the encampment Friday.

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