Police clear pro-Palestinian camp on steps of Idaho capital

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Tension rose Wednesday evening as Idaho State Police and Boise police officers cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment on the steps of the Capitol.

A video posted on social media by one of the pro-Palestinian protest group’s organizers shows law enforcement trying to keep protesters off the street, and a Boise police officer pushing a few protesters to the sidewalk and one being pushed to the ground.

Idaho State Police told KTVB on Wednesday that protesters moved from their camp on the lawn of the old Ada County Courthouse to the steps of the Idaho Capitol Building. There they set up tents, canopies and other personal items.

Around 8 p.m., a mix of ISP and BPD officers asked the group to leave the steps, saying they were violating Idaho code. The code prevents anyone from blocking access to public and government facilities.

ISP said the KTVB protesters were given “ample” time to pack up and leave, but that was not the case. Police then moved in and began confiscating people’s belongings. They say there will be a process for protesters to get their property back.

The department says the protesters moved across the street and later returned to the encampment at the Old Ada County Courthouse.

ISP said no one was taken to the hospital or arrested.

BPD released a statement about what happened Wednesday:

Boise Police officers were called to assist in maintaining a safe work area for ISP while clearing obstructions from the Capitol steps. Several people entered the street near ISP’s work area and ignored officers’ orders to return to the sidewalk, resulting in a physical interaction with an officer. All officers wore body video and the incident was documented in accordance with BPD policies and procedures. We remind viewers of this video that this is a small portion of the interaction and there are strict reviews and guidelines for any use of force complaint. All demonstrators involved had been warned several times and had the opportunity to claim the items previously confiscated by ISP. BPD will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

The encampment at the Old Ada County Courthouse was set up following a May 3 rally after protesters gathered at the Anne Frank Monument and headed to the capitol.

About thirty people camped overnight. Early on the morning of May 4, police searched the camp and removed the tents. Aaron Snell, public information officer for the Idaho State Police (ISP), said protesters are welcome in public spaces but must abide by camping rules.

On May 5, Casey Parsons, an attorney for the group, told KTVB that the camp would be allowed to remain as long as it was “used for gathering purposes.”

Protesters are not allowed to camp or sleep in the tents, so they worked in shifts throughout the night.

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