Encampment established in response to ongoing conflict in Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas. Protesters calling for universities to divest from Israel.
Encampment was erected 16 days prior and part of a wave of similar protests at colleges across the country.
One student locked out of dorm room, preventing access to belongings.
Police operation began around 5:30 a.m., with officers giving protesters a two-minute warning before making arrests for defiant trespassing.
Six students given mandatory leaves of absence for involvement in protest.
Two banned students are part of negotiating committee and have met with UPenn's President and Provost.
University of Pennsylvania police dismantled an anti-Israel encampment on campus and arrested protesters.
University of Pennsylvania police, in collaboration with the Philadelphia Police Department, dismantled an anti-Israel encampment on campus and arrested protesters early Friday morning. The encampment had been erected 16 days prior and was part of a wave of similar protests at colleges across the country. Six students had previously been given mandatory leaves of absence for their involvement in the protest.
The police operation began around 5:30 a.m., with officers giving protesters a two-minute warning to leave the area before making arrests for defiant trespassing. The majority of protesters dispersed or were taken into custody by 7 a.m.
Two of the banned students are part of the negotiating committee and have met with UPenn's President and Provost, while one student has been locked out of her dorm room, preventing her from accessing her belongings.
The encampment was established in response to ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas. Protesters are calling for universities to divest from Israel due to the situation there. However, some have criticized the protests for their antisemitic rhetoric.
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania called for the encampment to be disbanded and restored order on campus.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
University of Pennsylvania pro-Palestinian encampment disbanded by police
Approximately 33 people arrested for defiant trespassing
Governor Josh Shapiro called for the encampment to be disbanded and restored order on campus
Accuracy
Six students placed on mandatory leave of absence, restricted from campus facilities and events
University announced increased security measures for commencement ceremony including high level of security at gates, airport-style screening, and graduates required to show Penn ID
Deception
(35%)
The article does not explicitly state any falsehoods or misrepresentations. However, it heavily leans on reporting the perspective of the University of Pennsylvania and law enforcement without providing equal weight to the protesters' viewpoints. The author does not disclose sources for several claims made in the article, such as details about what demands were made by protesters and how exactly students were placed on mandatory leave. This lack of transparency could lead readers to question the validity of these claims.
The operation to clear the encampment has been largely peaceful so far, compared to the chaos that has erupted on college campuses in other states.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains a few instances of appeals to authority and inflammatory rhetoric. It mentions the governor's statement condemning the encampment but does not directly quote any logical fallacies from him. The author also uses inflammatory language such as
heightened calls for it to be shut down, including one from the governor.
The area has since been closed to traffic and people trying to get through the area should expect delays.
During the two-week-long encampment, the protesters had demanded Penn disclose its investments and cut ties with businesses that support Israel.
Bias
(95%)
The article reports on the disbanding of a pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Pennsylvania and includes statements from Governor Josh Shapiro condemning the encampment and calling for it to be dismantled. The author does not express any bias towards either side, but by including Shapiro's statements, there is an implied bias towards those who support the removal of the encampment.
He also called the situation at Penn 'unstable' and 'unacceptable' just hours before the encampment was dismantled.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro weighed in on Thursday, saying that it was 'past time for the university to act, to address this, to disband this encampment and restore order and safety on campus.'
