'No encampments will be allowed:' Abbott says pro-Palestinian protesters at UT will be arrested

Students began to gather on Monday afternoon at the University of Texas, chanting "Free Palestine" as they set up tents in a surprise encampment on the campus' South Mall.

Some protesters could be heard chanting, "Whose lawn? Our lawn!"

This event marks an escalation from pro-Palestinian rallies on campus on Wednesday when 57 students were arrested and charged with criminal trespassing — although all charges were dropped. Travis County Attorney Delia Garza, whose office handles misdemeanor cases, acknowledged "deficiencies" in the probable cause arrest affidavits, which are documents used by law enforcement to justify arrests.

Although protests are protected by the First Amendment, freedom of encampment is not, and Gov. Greg Abbott has discouraged those doing so by threatening arrest.

Here's what we know about the encampment.

Gov. Greg Abbott says "No encampments will be allowed."

What is encampment?

Encampment protests occur when demonstrators build temporary communities on their campuses and occupy the areas as a form of political resistance. The communities typically consist of tents and other shelters around which students congregate, organize protests and sleep.

More: What is an encampment protest? Students at UT-Austin join college protests nationwide

Protest encampments are occurring across at least 20 college and university campuses in the U.S.

According to NBC News, protest encampments are occurring on at least 20 college campuses across the nation, including UT, Harvard University, Brown University, the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Abbott says pro-Palestinian protesters at UT-Austin will be arrested