PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Demonstrators marched to the home of University of Pennsylvania’s Interim President Larry Jameson Friday night, just hours after dozens were arrested and a Palestinian solidarity encampment in the heart of campus was dismantled.
A video obtained by Penn’s student-run news organization, The Daily Pennsylvanian, shows at least three people jumping the fence and banging on Jameson’s front door. One person is seen lighting a flare on his property.
According to an alert sent by Penn’s Division of Public Safety, it happened around 8:45 p.m. They say the crowd became disorderly and police regained control of the area.
A crowd of about 150 people then made their way to University City, blocking the intersection at 33rd and Market streets.
Demonstrators were heard chanting “Free Palestine” and “The students united will never be defeated.”
Breaking down the encampment
Penn students received an alert at 5:58 a.m. Friday asking them to avoid the area of College Green due to police activity.
When police arrived, they announced over a bullhorn that the protesters had two minutes to break down their camp and leave.
Some ran off with their belongings. Many stayed and moved to the Ben Franklin statue, linking arms and singing.
Just after 6 a.m., Philadelphia police, Penn police and highway patrol officers armed in riot gear started moving in on the encampment.
While dozens of protesters were handcuffed and removed from the encampment, officials say only nine were current Penn students.
Some protesters walked out with police while others passively resisted arrest and had to be carried out.
After the arrests, Jameson released a statement saying Penn’s efforts to negotiate with protesters had “been met by unreasonable demands and a dangerous escalation of the encampment.”
Thursday night, six Penn students participating in the encampment were placed on mandatory temporary leaves of absence, pending the results of an investigation.
College Green remains off-limits and, to gain access, students will need to show their Penn ID.