George Washington University: Pepper spray used on pro-Palestine protestors; 33 arrested

Police used pepper sprays to clear out a protest site at George Washington University in the US and also detained 33 people.

Study abroad: Despite several efforts to get peace back at US Universities, the pro-Palestine protests refuse to die down. The latest on this is the officers from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in Washington, DC used pepper spray to disperse the protesters at George Washington University in the US. 

The arrests happened as the mayor and police chief were expected to testify in front of Congress later in the day about why it took too long to clear the encampment which entered the second week.

Due to this, the House Republicans had to cancel the scheduled testimony of Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and Metropolitan Police Department and Metropolitan Police Department chief Pamela A Smith on Wednesday at Congress on the response to the encampment. 

A total of 33 demonstrators were arrested. On this, the university has said that it is still not clear whether arrested individuals were students or, in any way, affiliated with the school, as reported by India Today.

Protestors tried to break police lines

The officers have confirmed that they used pepper spray only after the protestors tried to break police lines and also one officer was assaulted during the violence.

Pepper spray was used three times as demonstrators tried to push past officers to reach other people who had been arrested, said MPD Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll, as reported by CNN.

George Washington University Protests Latest Updates

Following are some of the messages circulating on social media platform X:

"We stand with Israel. We stand for peace in Washington, DC. US Republican member of Congress Lauren Boebert was booed and interrupted as she called for an end to the pro-Palestine protests at George Washington University during a visit to the campus with fellow representatives," reads a message by Paramotor English News.

"I want to do a peaceful protest and drape the George Washington statue that they covered in the Palestine flag with the American flag inside of the Pro-Palestine peaceful protest at George Washington University. We'll see how long it stays peaceful," said another message. 

Read more:

• University of Amsterdam: Violence breaks out at pro-Palestinian protest
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