Live: Arrests, pepper spray against protesters as police clear GW camp

Update from Wednesday, 5:26 a.m.:

According to an MPD spokesperson, more than 20 arrests were made Wednesday morning as the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) cleared the Gaza Solidarity Camp at George Washington University (GW).

MPD officers sprayed protesters with pepper spray as demonstrators attempted to move toward the encampment to support those arrested, several protesters said Agree. Protesters were heard shouting, “We need a medic,” and several protesters vomited after being sprayed.

MPD officers arrived at the University of GW campus around 3:20 a.m. Officers then gave protesters three verbal warnings, which are required before implementing crowd control measures. The last warning occurred at 3:32 a.m. according to the GW Beil.

During the evacuation, police barricaded the 2000 block entrance to H Street. The demonstrators have retreated to the corner of I Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

This comes just hours before Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD Police Chief Pamela Smith are scheduled to testify before the House Oversight and Accountability Committee her decision not to sweep the camp last week.