The anti-Israel encampment at Drexel University disbanded early on Thursday after President John Fry asked the Philadelphia Police Department to assist with clearing the protestors.
After Fry warned protestors the university planned to act shortly before 5 a.m., the encampment was reportedly cleared by noon, with law enforcement telling 6 ABC that protestors “picked up their belongings for the most part and left by their own free will,” and evidence suggested police would “be able to complete this operation without having to make any arrests, any use of force, anything of that nature.”
Fry confirmed, “After thoughtful planning in consultation with Chief Mel Singleton and in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia, I made the decision to have Drexel Police and Public Safety officers join with the Philadelphia Police to clear the demonstration encampment on Korman Quad as peacefully as possible.”
Video posted to the social media platform X appears to show protestors removing banners, barricades, and trash bags full of belongings after police warned them to leave the premises.
Drexel University free Palestine camp is over as of five minutes ago. Ultimatum given by Drexel police… Philly police enforce it… most protesters leave voluntarily. No known arrests made. @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/VhZ8vjF6eK
— Hank Flynn (@HankFox29) May 23, 2024
The university president alleged multiple individuals at the encampment had no ties to Drexel and were trespassing.
“An unauthorized encampment that involves large numbers of people unaffiliated with Drexel trespassing on our campus is illegal,” Fry added. “The language and chants coming from this demonstration, underscored by protestors’ repugnant ‘demands,’ must now come to an end.”
In addition to the Drexel Palestine Coalition’s call for the university to participate in the controversial Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement called antisemitic by some Israelis, the group also called for a Jewish professor to be fired and two Jewish community organizations to be “terminated” from the university campus.
Despite the protest ending, a statement attributed to the Drexel Palestine Coalition claims they engaged in a “strategic retreat” from the encampment and plan to return at a later date.
Republican U.S. Senate nominee Dave McCormick previously told The Pennsylvania Daily Star he would urge senators to “revisit” government tax breaks and funding for universities that allowed anti-Israel encampments to form.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Protesters Leaving After Police Come to Drexel University” by Hank Flynn.
