Police clear camp in Penn, 33 people arrested

Police dispersed the two-week-old pro-Palestinian camp at the University of Pennsylvania this morning, resulting in 33 arrests of people who defied orders to leave, 6ABC reported.

A Penn spokesman said university police and Philadelphia police began an operation to break up the encampment around 5:30 a.m. 20 minutes later, protesters received a two-minute warning to leave.

Some of the protesters defied order and held their weapons at the Benjamin Franklin statue on College Green. According to the university, 33 people were arrested without incident and charged with trespassing.

“Those who chose to stay did so knowing they would be arrested and deported,” the university said in a statement.

By mid-morning the camp site had been cleared, although fences prevented people from accessing the area.

And some protest sympathizers gathered at 34th and Walnut streets later in the morning.

Protesters at the camp called on the university to disclose its investments and cut ties with companies that support Israel.

The previous day, Gov. Josh Shapiro said it was “long overdue time for the university to take action to dismantle this encampment and restore order and safety to the campus.”

“All students should feel safe on campus. All students have the legal right to feel safe on campus, and the University of Pennsylvania is committed to their safety. “It is time for the university to act, dismantle the encampment and restore order and safety to the campus,” Shapiro said.