Arrests made at pro-Palestinian protest on University of Pittsburgh campus

After nearly a week of relative calm, pro-Palestinian protesters in Pittsburgh’s university district sparked minor conflict with police on Sunday night, resulting in two arrests.

The arrests came after a group of about 200 protesters reneged on a verbal agreement to stay off university property.

Protesters who last week had set up an encampment at Schenley Plaza in Oakland on city property moved Sunday to the lawn outside the University of Pittsburgh’s student union, prompting school police to move in.

The arrests were confirmed by Pittsburgh police Chief Larry Scirotto. He said that the protesters generally complied with requests to remain civil.

Scirotto said that one of the two people initially detained by University of Pittsburgh police later returned to the area and was arrested for trespassing and taken to the Allegheny County Jail.

Scirotto said he has maintained communication with one of the senior leaders of the group of student demonstrators since Tuesday.

“The university falls within the city’s purview of our responsibility,” he said. “We have an obligation to control/maintain safety within our city spaces. We’re here to ensure this is as safe as it’s been since Tuesday when it started. We will continue to provide that level of support so that it remains orderly; it remains safe for all our citizens. That’s why you see our presence.”

On Sunday, about 200 protesters formed in a circle around the William Pitt Student Union grounds at Bigelow Boulevard and Forbes Avenue.

The activity in Oakland was reflected at campuses across the country with demands that universities cut financial ties to Israel because of the Israel-Hamas war.

Students have dug in at dozens of pro-Palestinian encampments around the country, prompting a range of responses from administrators: arrests and criminal charges, student suspensions or simply continued pleas to leave.

About 275 people were arrested on Saturday at campuses including Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis. The number of arrests nationwide approached 900 since New York police removed a pro-Palestinian protest encampment at Columbia University and arrested more than 100 demonstrators on April 18.

Protesters on Pitt’s campus Sunday chided university Chancellor Joan Gabel with chants including “Gabel, Gabel you can’t hide. You are funding genocide.”

The university held commencement ceremonies Sunday. Pitt spokesman Jared Stonesifer said those events occurred without incident.

Protests going on at WM Pitt Union lawn pic.twitter.com/tstqePLMlG

— Mike D. (@MikeJdiVittorio) April 29, 2024

Several people representing a pro-Israel stance were also among the protesters.

The University of Pittsburgh requested via the X social platform that people avoid the area.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we have closed the William Pitt Union,” the university posted at 8:15 p.m. “The remainder of campus remains open. Please continue to avoid the area.”

Pitt E.N.S. Alert: Public disturbance in the area of Cathedral of Learning and William Pitt Union. Please avoid the area. For updates visit https://t.co/Wg0aMqrJ31

— University of Pittsburgh (@PittTweet) April 28, 2024

When the demonstration began on Tuesday, Pitt spokesman Jared Stonesifer said the university embraced the right of demonstrators to protest. The university asked the protesters to move the encampment from campus grounds to city property.

Demonstrators set up tents at Schenley Plaza, adjacent to Hillman Library and across Forbes Avenue, is on city property just off campus. Professor, philosopher and activist Cornel West spoke Thursday at the encampment before his scheduled appearance at Hosanna House in the Hill District.

Schenley Plaza is expected to be clear of the tents and protesters Monday around noon, Scirotto said.

“The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police doesn’t take political sides,” he said. “We are about First Amendment rights and allowing those to exercise them in a responsible way. They continue to do that and we continue to ensure that they are safe while doing it.”

The extent of Pitt’s investments in Israeli military and defense companies is unclear. Protest organizers have said they have been told by the university that the information is confidential.

Throughout the week, the protest had been peaceful. It was originally organized by a group of students under the name “Pitt Divest from Apartheid.”

The Associated Press contributed to this story.