House hearing on George Washington University protest canceled after police clear out encampment and arrest over 30

Metropolitan Police Clear Pro-Palestinian Encampment at GWU

The Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, conducted an operation early Wednesday to clear a pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University's campus. Metro Police Chief Pamela A. Smith reported that 30 protesters were arrested at the encampment, with three others apprehended in a separate altercation. This action occurred just hours before Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and Chief Smith were scheduled to testify at Congress for the House Oversight Committee regarding the response to the encampment.

Response from Officials

Following the clearance of the encampment, House Oversight Chair James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky, announced the cancellation of the hearing and took credit for spurring the action. He expressed satisfaction that the potential Oversight hearing prompted swift action by Mayor Bowser and MPD Chief Smith, emphasizing the ongoing commitment to holding DC officials accountable for ensuring the safety of the nation's capital.

Nationwide Demonstrations

George Washington University is one of several universities across the country where pro-Palestinian protesters have established unauthorized encampments to demonstrate against Israel's war in Gaza and US support for the country. Since mid-April, over 2,400 individuals have been arrested on US campuses amid polarized debates over the right to protest, freedom of speech, and accusations of antisemitism.

Police Response and University's Reaction

The encampment at GWU, set up approximately two weeks ago in the University Yard, drew criticism from GW President Ellen Granberg, who cited its unauthorized nature, disruption to normal academic activities, and safety concerns. Metro Police stated that they had attempted non-arrest methods to deescalate tensions before ultimately dispersing the demonstrators. The university issued a statement describing the police action as "orderly and safe," while maintaining that final exams would proceed as scheduled with a continued police and security presence on the campus.

Additional Incidents at Other Universities

In addition to the GWU clearance, police also disbanded encampments and arrested protesters at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. These incidents reflect a broader trend of police using various tactics to disperse demonstrators from occupied school buildings and dismantle on-campus encampments.