25
Apr 2024
8:18 UTC
USA Tactical: Pro-Palestinian encampments ongoing in multiple universities, scuffles, arrests recorded in Boston, MA, Austin, TX, Los Angeles, CA as of early morning hours (local time) on April 25; maintain heightened vigilance
Current Situation
- As per reports, pro-Palestinian reports are ongoing in multiple universities nationwide, including in Columbia University, New York University, Emerson College, University of Maryland, University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, Brown University, Harvard University, University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, among others, as of early morning hours (local time) of April 25.
- Unconfirmed reports indicate that encampments are ongoing in around 50 universities and campuses across the USA.
- The encampments have been set up by students and faculties of the universities to demand a ceasefire amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza. Protestors also demand universities to divest from Israel-linked firms.
- In Arcata, CA, the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt has announced that the campus will remain closed from April 27-28, as protestors continue to “occupy” two buildings, as of April 24.
- In Arcata, CA, the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt has announced that the campus will remain closed from April 27-28, as protestors continue to “occupy” two buildings, as of April 24.
- In Austin, TX, Texas State Police arrested around 34 students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstration in at the University of Texas on April 24. Large-scale scuffles were reported between protestors and security forces. Subsequently, around 150 protestors gathered outside the Travis County Jail in Austin demanding their release.
- In Austin, TX, Texas State Police arrested around 34 students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstration in at the University of Texas on April 24. Large-scale scuffles were reported between protestors and security forces. Subsequently, around 150 protestors gathered outside the Travis County Jail in Austin demanding their release.
- In Boston, MA, emerging reports as of early morning hours (local time) on April 25 indicate Boston Police Department (BPD) raiding the encampment set up at Emerson College. Scuffles between protestors and security personnel were recorded as police attempted to arrest protestors. Social media reports indicate two police officers have been injured during scuffles.
- In Boston, MA, emerging reports as of early morning hours (local time) on April 25 indicate Boston Police Department (BPD) raiding the encampment set up at Emerson College. Scuffles between protestors and security personnel were recorded as police attempted to arrest protestors. Social media reports indicate two police officers have been injured during scuffles.
- In Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Police Department arrested around 93 protestors at a pro-Palestine protest at the campus of the University of South California (USC). Medium-scale scuffles were recorded as police attempted to detain protestors.
- In Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Police Department arrested around 93 protestors at a pro-Palestine protest at the campus of the University of South California (USC). Medium-scale scuffles were recorded as police attempted to detain protestors.
Assessments & Forecast
- The ongoing university encampments indicate an increased momentum in pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses nationwide, largely triggered by the law enforcement crackdown on student encampments at the Columbia University on April 18. With reports of police intervention emerging from additional universities, pro-Palestinian encampments and associated demonstrations are likely to continue and spill over to other campuses in the coming days. This is also made more credible due to heightened national and international attention towards the protests, notably with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson visiting Columbia University on April 24 to meet University President Minouche Shafik, while also calling for the latter to step down if she could not quell the protests.
- Given heightened sentiments over the issue, there remains a latent potential for unrest in the form of scuffles between law enforcement personnel and the protesters near the encampments. An escalation of protest is likely if police intervene in the campus and arrest protestors, as seen in Texas and Los Angeles and in New York City, when the New York Police Department (NYPD) entered campus premises to remove the pro-Palestine encampment and arrested more than 100 students on April 22.
- In the event of unrest, spontaneous demonstrations by pro-Palestinian protestors outside police stations and major thoroughfares near the universities also remain likely.
- To that end, such demonstrations are likely to cause ad-hoc road closures and disruptions to traffic.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in the USA on April 25 and in the coming days are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near the ongoing encampments due to the latent potential for protests escalating into unrest.
- Allot for travel disruptions in the vicinity of university campuses and plausible locations of spontaneous demonstrations.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
USA
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Current Situation
- As per reports, pro-Palestinian reports are ongoing in multiple universities nationwide, including in Columbia University, New York University, Emerson College, University of Maryland, University of California, Berkeley, Yale University, Brown University, Harvard University, University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, among others, as of early morning hours (local time) of April 25.
- Unconfirmed reports indicate that encampments are ongoing in around 50 universities and campuses across the USA.
- The encampments have been set up by students and faculties of the universities to demand a ceasefire amid the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza. Protestors also demand universities to divest from Israel-linked firms.
- In Arcata, CA, the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt has announced that the campus will remain closed from April 27-28, as protestors continue to “occupy” two buildings, as of April 24.
- In Arcata, CA, the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt has announced that the campus will remain closed from April 27-28, as protestors continue to “occupy” two buildings, as of April 24.
- In Austin, TX, Texas State Police arrested around 34 students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstration in at the University of Texas on April 24. Large-scale scuffles were reported between protestors and security forces. Subsequently, around 150 protestors gathered outside the Travis County Jail in Austin demanding their release.
- In Austin, TX, Texas State Police arrested around 34 students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstration in at the University of Texas on April 24. Large-scale scuffles were reported between protestors and security forces. Subsequently, around 150 protestors gathered outside the Travis County Jail in Austin demanding their release.
- In Boston, MA, emerging reports as of early morning hours (local time) on April 25 indicate Boston Police Department (BPD) raiding the encampment set up at Emerson College. Scuffles between protestors and security personnel were recorded as police attempted to arrest protestors. Social media reports indicate two police officers have been injured during scuffles.
- In Boston, MA, emerging reports as of early morning hours (local time) on April 25 indicate Boston Police Department (BPD) raiding the encampment set up at Emerson College. Scuffles between protestors and security personnel were recorded as police attempted to arrest protestors. Social media reports indicate two police officers have been injured during scuffles.
- In Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Police Department arrested around 93 protestors at a pro-Palestine protest at the campus of the University of South California (USC). Medium-scale scuffles were recorded as police attempted to detain protestors.
- In Los Angeles, CA, Los Angeles Police Department arrested around 93 protestors at a pro-Palestine protest at the campus of the University of South California (USC). Medium-scale scuffles were recorded as police attempted to detain protestors.
Assessments & Forecast
- The ongoing university encampments indicate an increased momentum in pro-Palestinian activism on college campuses nationwide, largely triggered by the law enforcement crackdown on student encampments at the Columbia University on April 18. With reports of police intervention emerging from additional universities, pro-Palestinian encampments and associated demonstrations are likely to continue and spill over to other campuses in the coming days. This is also made more credible due to heightened national and international attention towards the protests, notably with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson visiting Columbia University on April 24 to meet University President Minouche Shafik, while also calling for the latter to step down if she could not quell the protests.
- Given heightened sentiments over the issue, there remains a latent potential for unrest in the form of scuffles between law enforcement personnel and the protesters near the encampments. An escalation of protest is likely if police intervene in the campus and arrest protestors, as seen in Texas and Los Angeles and in New York City, when the New York Police Department (NYPD) entered campus premises to remove the pro-Palestine encampment and arrested more than 100 students on April 22.
- In the event of unrest, spontaneous demonstrations by pro-Palestinian protestors outside police stations and major thoroughfares near the universities also remain likely.
- To that end, such demonstrations are likely to cause ad-hoc road closures and disruptions to traffic.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in the USA on April 25 and in the coming days are advised to maintain heightened vigilance near the ongoing encampments due to the latent potential for protests escalating into unrest.
- Allot for travel disruptions in the vicinity of university campuses and plausible locations of spontaneous demonstrations.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
USA
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
Medium
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Related Reports
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ProtestUSA Tactical: Pro-Palestinian activists call for protest at Union Square in New York City, NY on May 1; maintain heightened vigilance -
DevelopingUSA Tactical: Shelter-in-place issued near Indian Route 6139 in Cameron, AZ as of 10:30 (local time) on April 29; avoid all travel -
WeatherUSA Tactical: Tornadoes cause damage in parts of Oklahoma, as threat of severe storms continues from Missouri to Texas during night hours on April 28; remain cognizant of authorities’ updates
Related Reports
USA
-
ProtestUSA Tactical: App-based ride-sharing, food delivery drivers will hold strike, protests in several cities on May 1; allot for disruptions
-
ProtestUSA Tactical: Pro-Palestinian activists call for protest at Union Square in New York City, NY on May 1; maintain heightened vigilance
-
DevelopingUSA Tactical: Shelter-in-place issued near Indian Route 6139 in Cameron, AZ as of 10:30 (local time) on April 29; avoid all travel
-
WeatherUSA Tactical: Tornadoes cause damage in parts of Oklahoma, as threat of severe storms continues from Missouri to Texas during night hours on April 28; remain cognizant of authorities’ updates