About 20 protesters remained at George Washington University as the street encampment developed

About 20 protesters remained at George Washington University as the street encampment developed

The number of protesters on the George Washington University campus had dwindled to about 20 people by Sunday night, but another group set up a camp of about 20 tents on a nearby public road over the weekend, the school said.

As encampments developed on campus over the past few days, the university administration decided that students who stayed there after being asked to leave would be temporarily suspended and “administratively barred” from school grounds.

“On Friday evening, April 26, protesters barred from University Yard established a second encampment in the middle of H Street, beyond the barrier that secures GW property.
“Currently, we are aware of approximately 20 tents set up on the street by individuals from across the region. This demonstration is public property and under the jurisdiction of the DC government,” the university said.
The university said there were no incidents of violence during the demonstration on campus, although it added, “the actions of some of the protesters have deeply offended many members of our community.”

No further details about the alleged actions were provided.

Earlier on Sunday, a group of protesters chanted “Free Palestine” to the beating of drums on H Street NW, some wearing keffiyehs and waving Palestinian flags. The road was blocked off by law enforcement, and several DC Metropolitan Police officers were in the area.

Flags, signs and sidewalk chalk decorated the encampment, where protesters said they would stay until the university met their demands, including disclosing its financial endowment and divesting itself of Israeli associations — similar to the message of many other college protests across the country.

A counter-protester walked through the crowd with an Israeli flag draped over his shoulder. Demonstrators chanted, “Free, free, free Palestine,” at the protesters, while one held a sign that read, “Genocide is bad.”