Pro-Palestine Encampment At Art Institute Of Chicago Cleared, Dozens Arrested

CHICAGO — A pro-Palestinian Encampment set up Saturday at the Art Institute of Chicago was cleared the same as Chicago Police made dozens of trespassing arrests.

Police say demonstrators set up an encampment around 11 a.m. Saturday at a garden on Art Institute of Chicago's property in the 100 block of South Michigan Avenue. The demonstrators barricaded and locked the gates, and Chicago Police responded to the scene.

The Chicago Tribute reported that the encampment included an area called "Hind's Garden" in memory of a young Palestinian girl they say Israel's military killed. The group was calling for information and accountability for the Art Institute of Chicago's support of organizations affiliated with Israel.

Police said they tried for over two hours to negotiate with demonstrators and attempted to clear the area without arrest. The Art Institute of Chicago offered an alternate site for the protest, which police said the demonstrators declined. Around 3:30 p.m., the institute requested police take action to remove the protesters from the property. According to the Chicago Tribute, the Art Institute of Chicago believed the protest became "disruptive," took a security officer's keys and blocked emergency exits and gates.

According to police, they provided warnings to disperse at 4:11 p.m., 4:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Several demonstrators left before police started making arrests. Chicago Police said they cleared the encampment within 20 minutes of the final warning and arrested dozens for trespassing. The Chicago Tribune estimated approximately 50 arrests were made.

The Art Institute of Chicago protest was among many held at colleges and universities around the U.S. There have been thousands of arrests associated with the protests, and some institutions have taken steps to remove encampments or negotiate with demonstrators.