Chicago police presence was heavy this morning since about 6 a.m. due to police clearing out a pro-Palestinian encampment on DePaul University’s Lincoln Park quad Thursday morning.
Officers came prepared and were spotted on video in riot gear after being notified of what was to take place for over two weeks.
In a letter to faculty, staff and students early Thursday, DePaul President Robert L. Manuel said, “despite our good faith efforts to come to a shared resolution with the DePaul Divestment Coalition, we were unsuccessful.”
He said since the encampment began, “the situation has steadily escalated with physical altercations, credible threats of violence from people not associated with our community, an inability for the other members of our community to take part in the core academic experiences on our campus, and an ever-growing series of threats to the people involved in the encampment and our community members.”
Whomever participated in the encampment was given the opportunity to leave campus or be arrested. That eventually led them down Fullerton avenue. Though no physical evidence shows police removing protesters, some claimed they were forcibly moved.
A man and woman, ages 21 and 25, were arrested for obstructing traffic on Belden Avenue, police and DePaul said. During the encampment protesters vandalized university buildings causing nearly 180,000 in damages.
The gathering was a show of solidarity with protesters who had been camped out for more than two weeks, calling for the university to divest from companies that benefit Israel.
The school will close and resume all classes Thursday.
