Dozens arrested at UT-Austin, USC as universities struggle to contain Israel-Hamas protests

April 25 (UPI) -- Dozens of demonstrators participating in pro-Palestine protests at university campuses throughout the country were arrested Wednesday evening, as schools struggle to contain growing anger over the Israel-Hamas war.

At least 34 arrests were made as of 9 p.m. local time at the University of Texas, Austin campus, while an unconfirmed number of arrests were made during a protest at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

The Texas Department of Public Safety said in a statement that the arrests were made at the request for assistance by UT and at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, stating it was to prevent unlawful assembly and in support of UT police in maintain the pace.

"These protesters belong in jail," Abbott said on X. "Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining the hate-filled, anti-Semitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled."

The protest seemingly began with hundreds of students participating in a walkout organized by the local Palestine Solidarity Committee, which responded to the arrests by accusing the university and Abbott of violating their First Amendment rights.

"Through this unprecedented act of repression, they have made it explicitly clear: advocating against a genocide is criminal in Austin!" the group said.

Zohaib "Zo" Qadri, an Austin City council member, similarly chastised the police response to the student-led protests, demanding answers for why "such flagrant and wasteful show of force was authorized" and if any protesters had their First Amendment rights violated.

"This is Greg Abbott's Texas -- if you don't fall in line with his agenda, your rights are violated," he said in a statement.

UT President Jay Hartzell issued a statement defending their response, saying the university held firm and enforced its rules while protecting the constitutional right to free speech.

"Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable. Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others' ability to learn are not allowed," he said. "The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced. Our University will not be occupied."

He continued that people not affiliated with UT had participated in the protest -- a common issue schools have mentioned in relation to their demonstrations. He said many of them ignored officials' pleas for restraint and to disperse.

"The University did as we said we would do in the face of prohibited actions," he said.

In California, 93 demonstrators were arrested at USC, the Los Angeles Police Department said, as the protest forced officials to shut down the campus.

USC Divest From Death Coalition had organized an occupation of USC's Alumni Park starting Wednesday morning with demands that the university fully disclose and divest its finances and endowment from companies and institutions that profit from "Israeli apartheid, genocide and occupation in Palestine," including the U.S. military, it said in a press release.

Other demands included a complete academic boycott of Israel and releasing a public statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, among others.

LAPD Captain Kelly Muniz said officers entered USC campus at about 4 p.m. after protesters refused to leave. The arrests were for trespassing, she said.

No injuries were reported.

The Los Angeles Police Department earlier confirmed that officers were on campus at the request of USC.

USC said LAPD was clearing the center of campus, while warning those who don't disperse will be arrested.

The university had said there was "significant activity" at the center of campus due to a demonstration. The school's gates had been closed in response, and students coming to campus should be prepared to show ID, it said.

The arrests and demonstrations come as several universities have experience similar situations.

A number or protesters were arrested at New York University on Monday, when dozens were also detained at Yale University in Connecticut.

Last week, more than 100 were arrested at Columbia University in Manhattan.