NEW ORLEANS — Pro-Palestinian protests have been ongoing this week on Tulane's campus, but early Wednesday morning they came to a head. Around 3 A.M., law enforcement, including NOPD, Tulane Police, state police, and a SWAT unit, moved in and shut down the encampment that protestors had erected.
20 people were arrested. Throughout the week, Tulane officials have said the protests were unsanctioned as the students did not get a permit from the school.
"[Law enforcement] came together to talk about how we could peacefully disperse this particular protest action, in terms of they were trespassing on the property was just private property here. And as you can see, they fortified their situation," NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.
While Kirkpatrick said the protests were broken up peacefully, protestors say law enforcement was anything but peaceful. Our cameras were rolling as at least one student was shoved by a law enforcement officer and what may be a less-than-lethal weapon at students.
"When students were sleeping and supporters who had gathered to ensure their safety, were resting, a militarized coalition consisting of TUPD, NOPD and state police violently disassembled the peaceful encampment. With no dispersal warning, over 100 officers put the safety of students and community members at great risk by brutally arresting 14 unarmed individuals, including three bystanders, by using riot gear, assault riffles, and armored vehicles," Katherine Hamilton, a student at Tulane, said at a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
Protestors say police did not give a dispersal warning but Kirkpatrick says they were given several, including the electronic billboard that was parked on Tulane's campus Tuesday. Our cameras were also rolling as state police warned protesters to leave. Kirkpatrick adds, it was a strategic decision to wait until Wednesday to shut down the encampment.
"We wanted people to be able to have voice and not create a violation of the law. This is protected property. We wanted to give them an opportunity to peacefully remove themselves and not violate the rights of others as well," Kirkpatrick said.
Kirkpatrick says video footage will be reviewed. The Independent Police Monitor was also at the scene, but she only has jurisdiction over NOPD.
"We were able to observe the arrests of the protesters who were stationed outside of the encampment. And then we were able to follow the actions that the officers took as they moved down St. Charles in that methodical line that was described earlier and gave multiple disbursement orders for protesters to leave," Stella Cziment, the Independent Police Monitor, said.
Some students moved from the encampment on Tulane's campus to the neutral ground. While students say they thought they'd be safe from arrests on the neutral ground, Cziment says that's not the case.
"Exiting Tulane's campus and being observed exiting two lanes campus could give rise to a trespassing arrest on public property. Just because you've exited private property and then you're being arrested on public property doesn't mean you weren't previously on private property," Cziment said.
We've reached out to NOPD and the Independent Police Monitor for more information but have not heard back.
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