9 of 21 protesters arrested were not affiliated with UT Dallas, university says
DALLAS - The University of Texas at Dallas says nine of the 21 pro-Palestinian protestors arrested for occupying campus earlier this week were not affiliated with the university.
Those nine and students and faculty were arrested for criminal trespass after the university said they repeatedly ignored requests to take down their encampment and barricades.
Friday, hundreds of people gathered at the same location again.
Like many of the college campus protests over the war in Gaza, the dispute now seems to focus more on how the universities are handling what they call unlawful assemblies and criminal trespass.
Pro-Palestine groups returned to Chess Plaza on the Richardson campus Friday after setting up an encampment there on Wednesday afternoon.
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More than 2,300 people have been arrested at protests on college campuses in recent days, according to the Associated Press.
Although it was another pro-Palestinian event, it differed in many ways from two days ago. This time, no tents, wooden barricades or tables. Police kept their distance.
A tarp was set out on the plaza for prayer where about 700 people gathered.
But there was still plenty of criticism over what happened earlier in the week.
"Two days ago, we saw our university allow state troopers here, allow state troopers to arrest our students, arrest our professors, because they choose profit over people," said Fatima Gasim, a UTD student and protest organizer.
Friday also marked the last day of classes before finals, but protesters are vowing to continue their work.
"We're going to continue protesting and continue demanding our university to end its complicity," Gasim said.
UTD officials said Friday that law enforcement only moved in after protesters failed to remove barriers and other structures. A letter given to students moments before the arrests threatened expulsion.
Those who were arrested earlier this week at UTD were not allowed to be on campus Friday. As a condition of their bond, they are only allowed on campus for class and class-related activities.
"Shame on this administration and every administration that chooses to oppress its own students to protect its own genocidal interests. We see you!" said UTD alumnus Alia.
The protesters are calling for UT Dallas and The University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company to divest from companies that they say are profiting off of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
READ MORE: UT Arlington protesters find loophole to set up pro-Palestinian "encampment"
Companies named by the groups include Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Northrop Gruman and Boeing.
Friday is the last day of classes at UTD, so it is unclear what the protest movement will like going forward.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather at Collin County jail as UT Dallas arrestees are released
The 21 students and faculty members are charged with misdemeanor criminal trespassing for setting up tents and barricades on the campus.
The protest at UT Dallas is just one of several happening across the country.
The Associated Press says more than 2,000 people have been arrested at campuses across the country.
On Thursday, President Joe Biden addressed the unrest from the White House.
"There’s the right to protest but not to cause chaos," he said in brief remarks from the White House.
The president said he did not think it was necessary for the National Guard to intervene, but he warned that activists who forced schools to cancel classes were crossing a line.
"Dissent is essential to democracy," he said. "But dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others, so students can finish their semester and their college education."