What happened at pro-Palestinian protest at UT-Austin? Here's the timeline of events
More than 50 people were arrested Wednesday at the University of Texas during a peaceful pro-Palestine protest held by the Palestine Solidarity Committee, a registered student group at UT.
The protest had a significant police presence, with officers on horseback, bikes, foot, motorcycles and in vehicles. As the protest continued throughout the day, it quickly became aggressive, as police seemed to be indiscriminately grabbing protestors and pushing through the crowd. There were multiple injuries.
In case you missed it: Live updates: UT-Austin students hold pro-Palestinian protest; at least 50 arrested
I'm Lily Kepner, the higher education reporter for the Statesman.
On Oct. 7, Hamas, the militant government of the Gaza Strip, attacked Israel killing over 1,000 people and causing Israel to declare war. In the six months since Israel began their offensive, media reports estimate more than 30,000 Gazans have been killed. Two days after the attack, I started in this position and I've been covering protests at UT that followed.
I was at UT Wednesday from 11:20 a.m. to 8:15 p.m.. This is what happened.
Before Wednesday: PSC plans a peaceful protest in solidarity with students around the country
Last week, over 100 students at Columbia University were arrested for their pro-Palestinian protest involving encampments on the university Around the country, university Students for Justice in Palestine chapters have been holding similar demonstrations.
Tuesday night, the PSC posted on Instagram that there would be a protest in solidarity with Columbia and other universities. The protest, they said, would occupy the South Lawn all day. They invited students to walk out at 11:40 a.m. and bring food, face masks and blankets.
Texas Hillel, a center for Jewish students at UT, released a statement saying they were aware of PSC's plans to protest, and that "The university has assured us there will be no tolerance for disruption or behaviors misaligned to University policy and the governor's executive order."
11:20 a.m. Wednesday: Police gather on the UT campus as protesters arrive
By 11:20 a.m., more than a dozen police had already gathered from UT Police Department and State Troopers. There were about a dozen total. Media with cameras were instructed to set up off the plaza across the street.
Students started filtering into the Gregory Gym Plaza at about 11:30 a.m. Many were wearing face masks and keffiyeh, a traditional Middle Eastern scarf.
Noon: Hundreds of students begin protesting. The first protester is arrested
After a slight delay, hundreds of students began protesting just before noon. At this point, there were about seven state officers on horseback, who stayed in the back of the protest. At one point, an officer took out her phone and took a selfie with the other officers as they stood back.
Attorney George Lobb said the first arrest came between 11:50 a.m. and noon, just after the protest started.
At 12:15 p.m., there were more than 40 police officers present. Police stopped protestors at the Admissions Welcome Center on Speedway.
At 12:20 p.m., dozens of State Police entered Speedway. The Department of Public Safety later said they were called to help by both UT and Governor Greg Abbott.
12:30 p.m.: Students are ordered to disperse
As they came to the end of Speedway and turned east, police commanded students to disperse within one minute or face arrest.
A student leader of PSC, who was later arrested, communicated to police and protestors, asking them to disperse in small groups to avoid arrest.
By 12:45 p.m., a crowd had regathered on Speedway. There was a drum, and people started chanting "Free Palestine" again.
1 p.m.: Two students are arrested. Mounted police surround the cruiser where they are held
By 1 p.m., two students had been arrested. Police horses surrounded the police cruiser the individuals were placed in so protestors were unable to approach the car.
At this point, student chants became directed toward police, saying "off our campus." People were crying in shock.
1:30 p.m.: Students face off against mounted police. More arrests are made
Two other individuals were arrested and taken into a different police car, making for 4 arrests on Speedway. Police told protestors there would be more arrests if they didn't disperse.
Students linked arms in front of the police horses, and continued to hold their ground and chant "the people united will never be divided." But by 1:35 p.m., they listened to police direction and cleared to the sidewalks of Speedway.
A police van then came, and at least six more people were arrested. From inside the van, they chanted "Free Palestine."
2 p.m.: The protest moves to UT's South Mall. More protesters are arrested
At this point, I left to file my story. But Skye Seipp, the Statesman's public safety reporter, and two Statesman photographers were on the ground.
Around 2 p.m., students moved to the South Mall as initially planned. Austin Police came.
Within 10 minutes of most of the protestors making it onto the ground of the South Mall, police, led by University officers, came barreling into the crowd. They arrested one or two people. This happened multiple times.
By 2:30 p.m., tents had been set up by protesters on the South Mall.
By 2:50 p.m., there had been at least six arrests, bringing the total to 15.
3 p.m.: Mounted police push onto UT's South Mall
The arrest count reached 18 total by 3:02 p.m., according to Statesman eye witness accounts.
Police continued efforts to clear the lawn, but were not entirely successful in their efforts to remove everyone off the grass.
Just before 3:30 p.m., mounted state police made their way onto the South Mall in the middle of the protesters.
4 p.m. Police rip down tents erected by protesters. A Fox 7 reporter is arrested
Just after 4 p.m., protesters remained on the South Lawn in a more limited capacity. State, University and Austin police made a circle in the middle of the lawn and began ripping down tents made by the protesters.
At 4:15 p.m., police horses pushed students back north of the lawn, toward the George Washington Statue and the Tower. At this point, I talked to two people who had been injured as a result of the push.
At 4:18 p.m., a Fox 7 reporter was arrested by State Police.
Protestors continued to chant. Chants included "From the River to the Sea" and "Free Palestine" as well as chants directed against police, Abbott and President Jay Hartzell.
By this point, police had cleared the South Lawn, with state troopers lining the perimeter of the grass brandishing riot shields, batons. Some police had assault rifles.
Protesters remained off the grass, but stayed on the western sidewalk of the lawn.
At this point, Statesman journalists saw about 30 people get arrested. But later counts would suggest the number was significantly higher.
At 4:55 p.m., DPS confirmed to the Statesman that 20 people had been arrested and that state troopers were called in on the orders of UT and Gov. Greg Abbott.
5 p.m. 'The horses will hurt you.' Police order protesters to leave
At 5 p.m., UT Police announced to campus and to protestors that all were ordered to leave the South Mall immediately or face disorderly conduct and criminal trespassing charges.
By 5:20, the mounted police exited the lawn and began clearing the sidewalk where protesters remained. Protesters crammed into the tight areas around the sidewalks.
Moments later, state police with riot shields and batons began walking behind the mounted police to push everyone off the South Lawn.
Police began pushing students west on Inner Campus Drive — which later turns into 22nd Street.
Protesters were squeezed into a tight spot on the road between the walls of the stairs leading up to the Tower and Parlin Hall. Police could be heard shouting at protesters that the "horses will hurt you!" as they continued to push the group west.
Just after 5:30 p.m., protesters were in a larger space, but still on Inner Campus Drive near Sutton Hall and close to Guadalupe Street. Police held a line keeping protesters away from the lawn.
6 p.m. The crowd is mostly cleared. Over 50 arrests were made
Just after 6 p.m., the mounted police began a final push up to Guadalupe Street, with protesters spilling into the intersection of 22nd Street and Guadalupe Street.
Mounted police then turned and headed south on Guadalupe Street and other police left the area. Protesters cheered as the mounted police left.
About 100 returned to the South Mall. Some stayed on the sidewalks and cheered as cars passed and honked, others dispersed.
PSC posted that more than 50 students had been arrested at the protest. Attorney George Lobb told Statesman reporter Ella McCarthy around 8 p.m. that about 54 people were arrested.
The PSC post also called for protestors to come to Travis County Jail and to spread information about their bail fund.
7 p.m. An organizer from Jewish Voices for Peace offers food and water to remaining protesters
After 6 p.m., students gathered peacefully and undisturbed on the lawn. An organizer from Jewish Voices for Peace offered food and water to protesters.
A small number of UT Austin police were present on the steps of the Tower, which was barricaded.
8 p.m. A small protest begins around the jail where protesters have been moved
Statesman reporter McCarthy said 20 people had been booked into the Travis County Jail shortly after 8 p.m.. Statesman photographer Sara Diggins said volunteers sat in the jail lobby to fill out paperwork for those arrested.
At 8:53 p.m., Diggins reported that "a small but growing protest" started at the jail.
9 p.m. UT campus receives an 'all clear.'
UT Campus received an "all clear."
"The dispersal order at the South Mall has ended. All University rules are still in effect," it said.
President Hartzell released an email to campus shortly after, thanking staff and law enforcement and promising that "the University of Texas will continue to take necessary steps so that all our University functions proceed without interruption."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Pro-Palestinian protest at UT-Austin: Here's the timeline of events