The Metropolitan Police in Washington DC cleared out the pro-Palestine encampment at George Washington University on Wednesday, arresting 33 students, Metro Police chief Pamela A. Smith stated.

The police action came just a few hours before Smith and Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser's scheduled testimony at Congress for the House Oversight Committee regarding the student encampment. However, once it was cleared, the hearing was canceled by Chair James Comer. 

“I am pleased that the potential Oversight hearing led to swift action by Mayor Bowser and MPD Chief Smith. We will continue to hold DC officials accountable to ensure our nation’s capital is safe for all,” the Republican chair said. 

The Metropolitan Police Department claimed its forces attempted to shut down the encampment without issuing any arrests, but had to resort to extreme measures amid a "gradual escalation in volatility."

However, chief Smith had been warning of the instability of protests due to the presence of counter-protesters, assault reports, and the presence of non-university groups. She also claimed dangerous items were being gathered at the encampment, which prompted six warnings ordering the dissemination of protesters.

Police forces arrived at the GWU campus ready to utilize several weapons, including pepper spray. MPD Executive Assistant Chief Jeffery Carroll said pepper spray was deployed three times against protesters trying to reach arrested students. 

The university administration issued a statement saying police conduct was "safe and orderly." 

Students were quick to condemn and report what they had witnessed when the police cracked down on students at 4:00 am.

Ahmed El Masry, who had been a consistent demonstrator at the encampment, said he rushed back to campus after hearing police were trying to clear out the space. He stated that over 20 police vehicles were deployed at the site, saying it resembled a "war zone".

He added that his fellow protesters were being rounded up and taken to arrest vans. “I’m angry, like we’ve been here peacefully protesting,” he said. “This was our camp… It became a community, like we were here speaking up for something noble.”

So far, over 2,100 people have been arrested on US university campuses for protesting against genocide.

How justice is won

Responding to the decisions and actions taken by Congress, Dante O’Hara, a lead organizer of DC for Ceasefire Now Coalition said “Congress is creating this crisis. Pressuring local elected officials and university leaders to increase police action deflects from Congress’s own responsibility for causing the protests like at GWU.”

Right after police cleared the encampment, students set up a press conference at the US Capitol, which was joined by congresswomen Cori Bush and Rashida Tlaib. 

Tlaib began her statement by calling out the authorities' deliberate neglect of why students were protesting, instead focusing on the protests themselves.

“We will not stop in defending these students until [there is an] end in regards to the genocide, … [and] until there is an immediate and permanent ceasefire that includes complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza,” Tlaib said, adding that her position in office would be utilized to influence upcoming decisions. 

Cori Bush echoed Tlaib's words, saying “Those who refuse to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza think they can arrest and brutalize their way out of this situation.”

She further added that the nature of protests should be disruptive, and called on authorities and senior figures to prioritize humanity over their personal interests if they did not want to see protests mobilizing. 

"This is how justice is won," she concluded.   

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