Over the weekend, the University of Virginia (UVA) faced a situation involving a pro-Palestinian encampment on campus that led to the arrest of at least 25 individuals for trespassing. The university confirmed that those arrested were taken to the Albemarle County Regional Jail, with ongoing efforts to determine how many of them were affiliated with UVA.
According to a statement released by UVA, the arrests followed a demonstration near the University Chapel, triggered by what the university described as multiple violations of university police regulations and subsequent violent behavior by the protesters.
When questioned about the nature of the violent conduct, a university spokesperson referred back to the statement, citing instances of agitation, chanting, and swinging of objects during the police intervention on Saturday.
The situation was eventually brought under control, with the campus being declared 'stable' around 4 p.m. as law enforcement cleared the protesters from the area.
Prior to this incident, the UVA Encampment for Gaza group had called for the university to divest from Israel, sparking a series of protests. The university acknowledged that earlier demonstrations had been peaceful and in compliance with university policies until Friday evening when a vigil turned into the erection of prohibited tents and canopies.
Following repeated warnings to remove the tents, the university's chief of police, in coordination with the Virginia State Police, declared an unlawful assembly around 2:45 p.m. on Saturday due to the demonstrators' refusal to comply.
It is important to note that the Virginia State Police clarified their role as providing assistance to the university police, who were the lead agency on campus during the incident.
