By Adrienne Vogt, Christina Zdanowicz, Elise Hammond, Samantha Delouya, Chandelis Duster, Tori B. Powell, Emma Tucker, Elizabeth Wolfe and Kathleen Magramo, CNN
The University of Texas at Austin Police Department said in a statement on X Wednesday evening that "the dispersal order at the South Mall has ended. All University rules are still in effect."
As of 9 p.m. CT, 34 arrests have been made by law enforcement on the UT Austin campus, according to an X post from the Texas Department of Public Safety.
From CNN's Kathleen Magramo
Amid arrests of pro-Palestine protesters across universities, the Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned calls for the deployment of the National Guard, saying the “crackdown on students with an overwhelming militaristic force has set a dangerous precedent for university administrations nationwide.”
“The Muslim Public Affairs Council calls on the people of conscience, including faculty and leaders, to oppose threats to deploy the National Guard on the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University, whose aim is to push back against the university’s continued financial investment in corporations that profit from Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine,” the council said in a statement Wednesday.
MPAC urged for a reevaluation of strategies used to handle protests on campuses across the country and says it advocates for “approaches that emphasize de-escalation and address students’ concerns through constructive means rather than force and intimidation.”
In a previous statement on Tuesday, MPAC accused the White House of having double standards for issuing a response condemning violence and physical intimidation against Jewish students at Columbia University, but says the administration “consistently fails to extend the same sentiments to students who face repeated violence, intimidation, doxing, and harassment for their pro-Palestinian advocacy.”
From CNN's Stephanie Becker and Nick Watt
The Los Angeles Police Department arrested approximately 50 protestors at the University of Southern California after campus police gave a dispersal order to demonstrators, according to a CNN crew at the scene.
Campus police announced earlier that anyone who stayed in the area would be subject to criminal trespass laws.
Video from the scene showed protestors not resisting arrest as LAPD handcuffed them with zip ties and escorted them away from the ongoing protest.
From CNN Elizabeth Joseph
The University Park Campus, the University of Southern California's main campus, has been closed due to the ongoing protests, the university said in a statement.
"The UPC campus has been closed as a result of significant activity at the center of campus. Students will have access through pedestrian gates with their USC IDs. Everyone who is on campus will be able to leave," the post says.
The campus closure comes as Los Angeles Police Department officers started arresting protesters at the university.
From CNN’s Nick Watt, Stephanie Becker, David Lake and Kevin Myers
Los Angeles Police Department officers are arresting protesters at the University of Southern California for criminal trespassing after a dispersal order was announced by campus police at a university park.
Demonstrators were seen on video being zip-tied and led away by officers as other protesters chanted, “Let them go.”
Those detained did not appear to resist officers. Organizers have advised protesters not to resist arrest.
From CNN's Kathleen Magramo
There is growing tension at Columbia University amid the pro-Palestinian protests on the New York campus.
House Speaker Mike Johnson on Wednesday called for the resignation of school President Minouche Shafik, while pro-Palestinian student protesters are demanding Columbia cut all financial ties with Israel.
"It's pretty disheartening to see all this on campus. I will say I think a lot of people are misguided," said Michael D'Agostino, a senior student at the university.
While most protests have been non-violent, some Jewish students are expressing concern for their safety.
"The antisemitic comments and activity is running rampant," said Jessica Schwalb, a Jewish student at Columbia.
The university recently shifted to hybrid classes due to safety concerns, allowing students to take classes and final exams online.
"It's making harder to go to classes and everything. And things are switching to going remote," said Rony Anyin, a sophomore student.
From CNN’s Nick Watt, Stephanie Becker and Cindy Von Quednow
The University of Southern California's Department of Public Safety ordered protesters at the campus’ Alumni Park to disperse Wednesday afternoon.
Officers told demonstrators to leave the area within 10 minutes or be subject to criminal trespass.
“Everybody has to leave the Alumni Park area and adjacent area. This is private property. If you stay on this property, you’ll be subject to … criminal trespass,” a campus Department of Public Safety officer said on a loud speaker while standing by Los Angeles Police Department officers. “You have 10 minutes to leave the park.”
Protesters could be seen sitting with their arms linked, standing and chanting in the park after the announcement from the police.
From CNN's Haley Talbot and Clare Foran
Following a tense news conference repeatedly interrupted by protesters on the steps of Columbia University on Wednesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he was not surprised by the strong reaction and defended his decision to speak out at the New York campus amidst threats to his speakership back in Washington.
“The speaker speaks for the House of Representatives. And I felt it was very important for that voice to be heard, not just about what happens in Columbia, but about what is happening right now around the country,” he told CNN’s Erin Burnett.
“We have to stand unequivocally for the right and the good and I'm calling on all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to speak out against this, not to endorse it, not to coddle these people, but to say this has to stop. We have to treat every single person with dignity and respect. And that's not happening here, and it's an atrocity," he went on.
Asked if he believes protesting the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and the loss of life of innocent civilians is antisemitic in and of itself, Johnson said that he believes “there’s always a place for debate and the free exchange of ideas but let’s not equivocate on what’s happening with Hamas and in Gaza."
"This is a battle, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said, between good versus evil, light versus darkness, civilization versus barbarism. This isn’t a close call," Johnson said.
From CNN’s Ed Lavendera and Ashley Killough
The University of Texas Austin recently sent students an email alerting them that there was a “Notice of Dispersal Order” following a day of clashes and arrests on the campus.
“I am Assistant Chief Ashley Griffin and I represent the University of Texas at Austin Police Department. Your conduct is in violation of Penal Code Sections 42.01 Disorderly Conduct, 42.02 Riot, 42.03 Obstructing a Highway or other passageway. I command you in the name of the People of the State of Texas to disperse, and if you do not, you shall be arrested for Violation of Penal Code Section 42.01 Disorderly Conduct, 42.02 Riot, 42.03 Obstructing a Highway or other passageway,” the email said.
Texas Department of Public Safety said earlier that more than 20 people were arrested after the Palestine Solidarity Committee organized a walkout and occupation of the school's South Lawn.
The demonstrations led to confrontations between police officers, state troopers and students.
