Police begin to dismantle UPenn protests

PHL17 was on the scene as police detained and removed a Pro-Palestinian encampment on the University of Pennsylvania campus early Friday morning. The move to dismantle the encampment followed a warning from officers to leave campus or face arrest.

Protestors were at the Ben Franklin Statue on College Green. After being up for more than two weeks, officers took down tents as some protestors walked and others were carried by officers and placed into police vehicles.

The protests at Penn are among student protests at some colleges and universities throughout the country over the Israel-Hamas war. As reported, protestors called on Penn officials to divest financial support from Israel.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Thursday reportedly called on the University of Pennsylvania to disband the encampment “to restore order and safety” on campus when making remarks at an event in Westmoreland County.