Dozens of people arrested in protests at USC

Dozens of student protesters at the University of Southern California (USC) were arrested Wednesday night amid escalating tensions on college campuses across the country due to the ongoing war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

Protesters were arrested peacefully after police told them to disperse or be arrested, the Associated Press reported. Police officers detained the students, who were standing with their arms crossed, one by one, according to the news agency.

The USC Department of Public Safety issued a series of alerts Wednesday saying there was “significant activity” downtown due to a demonstration. The Department warned that Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers would arrest students who did not disperse from the area.

Authorities also said Wednesday night that the campus was closed following the demonstrations.

“The protest in [University Park Campus] ended,” says the security department alert. “However, the campus remains closed until further notice. Students, faculty, staff and people with business on campus can enter with proper identification.”

The USC campus was already on edge after the school announced it was canceling a speech by its valedictorian due to security risks after she linked to pro-Palestinian websites on her social media.

These arrests are just the latest in a series of incidents on campus involving pro-Palestinian student protesters. Tensions began to rise last week at Columbia University, where school officials asked the New York Police Department to respond to a demonstration on campus where students had set up a camp.

Before Wednesday’s USC arrests, police also detained students protesting at the University of Texas at Austin campus. Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) weighed in on the demonstrations, saying these protesters “belonged in prison” as arrests were made.

The Hill has reached out to USC for comment.