Encampment protest hits George Washington University campus

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4. WTOP: Demonstrations at GW University campus over Israel-Hamas war enter 3rd day

Demonstrations at GW University campus over Israel-Hamas war enter 3rd day

Will Vitka | [e-mail]
April 27, 2024, 8:57 AM


George Washington University police officers scan the area as students demonstrate on campus during a pro-Palestinian protest over the Israel-Hamas war on Friday, April 26, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)(AP/Jose Luis Magana)

Pro-Palestinian student protests on and in front of George Washington University’s University Yard entered their third day on Saturday with no sign of slowing down. ... While many protesters have abandoned the encampment on the yard, WTOP’s Linh Bui saw 15 tents in the new H Street encampment and over 50 protesters waking up on the street Saturday morning.

The Hatchet, the GW University student newspaper, reported that the number of demonstrators outside the yard swelled to somewhere between 200 and 250 around 11 p.m. Friday night on H Street, but dwindled to around 100 in the early morning hours on Saturday.

Most protesters moved onto the street and surrounding area Friday afternoon — taking their bags and tents with them — after university workers put up metal fencing around University Yard. The student news source reported that there were far less demonstrators in the original encampment as of Saturday morning.

As for the encampment itself, GW University had wanted it cleared by 7 p.m. Thursday, and requested D.C. police assistance, but according to reporting Friday by The Washington Post, officials rejected the request. ... Police had gathered at the site around 3 a.m. Friday morning and were ready to go in, according to the Post, but were told to stand down. ... WTOP has reached out to D.C. police for comment.

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Will Vitka
William Vitka is a Digital Writer/Editor for WTOP.com. He's been in the news industry for over a decade. Before joining WTOP, he worked for CBS News, Stuff Magazine, The New York Post and wrote a variety of books—about a dozen of them, with more to come.
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