By Adrienne Vogt, Christina Zdanowicz, Elise Hammond, Samantha Delouya, Chandelis Duster, Tori B. Powell, Emma Tucker, Elizabeth Wolfe and Kathleen Magramo, CNN
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.
From CNN’s Cindy Von Quednow
The demonstration at USC escalated when protesters refused to relocate and remove their tents and other prohibited items, Provost Andrew T. Guzman said in a statement posted online.
Many of the protesters "do not appear to be affiliated with USC," he said.
“Their actions have escalated to the point of confrontation and have threatened the safety of our officers and campus community,” Guzman said.
Campus gates have been closed and officials are “taking action to restrict growth of the protest and keep the rest of the campus calm,” the statement read.
“We want to be clear that we reject speech that is hateful and that causes harm to others. In these challenging times, we call on the Trojan Family to remember that every member of our community is deserving of respect, has the right to be safe on campus, take classes, and participate in other campus activities without fear of harassment or bullying. It should be everyone’s priority to treat each other with kindness and care,” Guzman continued.
“We will do all that is required to maintain the safety of every member of our community,” he said.
The scene at the University of Southern California's University Park campus has calmed after major activity erupted during a demonstration earlier on Wednesday.
The dean of Columbia College, the undergraduate liberal arts college at Columbia University, sent an email Wednesday to alumni about the protests on campus, describing it as a "difficult moment" for the New York school.
“I have heard from numerous alumni, parents and students voicing their thoughts on what they have witnessed personally or observed from a distance in recent days.”
“I have heard from numerous alumni, parents and students voicing their thoughts on what they have witnessed personally or observed from a distance in recent days," wrote Josef Sorett, dean of Columbia College.
“No one can or should dictate how anyone thinks or feels, particularly in the face of such complex and vexing issues. All I can offer at present is my perspective — and as much information as we have at present — even as, I will admit, words are surely inadequate,”
In his email, Sorett stressed “several key points regarding the situation on and around campus,” including “unacceptable instances of intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus.”
He added: “Let me state emphatically that Antisemitic or Islamophobic rhetoric — like any other language used to hurt, harass and frighten people — has no place in our community… However, it is important to recognize that the University is limited in its ability to control the actions or words of members of the public on the streets surrounding campus – even as we acknowledge that not every incident has been outside the gates and that some Columbia affiliates are not without fault.”
From CNN’s Ashley Killough and Joe Sutton
More than 20 arrests were made at the University of Texas campus in Austin on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
“The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) responded to the University of Texas (UT) campus in Austin today at the request of the University and at the direction of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, in order to prevent any unlawful assembly and to support UT Police in maintaining the peace by arresting anyone engaging in any sort of criminal activity, including criminal trespass,” the department said in a statement.
The department also said it will “continue adjusting operations as needed in order to assist our law enforcement partners and maintain the public’s safety.”
Some context: The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Austin organized a walkout and occupation on the school's South Lawn in Austin.
It led to multiple confrontations between police officers, state troopers "in full riot gear with batons" and the students, Amelia Kimball, associate managing editor at The Daily Texan, told CNN News Central.
CNN's Chandelis Duster and Joe Sutton
The Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter in Austin, Texas, condemned “unnecessary and excessive force” used by police officers Wednesday to arrest students protesting the Israel-Hamas war.
Fayyaz Shah, board chair of CAIR Austin, said law enforcement should “exercise restraint and respect the rights of protesters.”
“In a democratic society, the right to peacefully protest and express dissenting opinions is fundamental. The use of large numbers of heavily armed law enforcement officers to arrest student activists advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza represents a troubling suppression of these rights,” Shah said in a statement.
Shaimaa Zayan, operations manager of CAIR Austin, stressed that law enforcement should prioritize de-escalation and dialogue when handling peaceful protests.
"Sending in a massive armed police force to arrest students advocating for peace sends the wrong message and only exacerbates tensions further,” Zayan said in a statement.
Texas state troopers in riot gear broke up a group of protesters at the University of Texas at Austin after a demonstration Wednesday. The Austin Police Department told CNN they are assisting the University of Texas Police Department with transporting arrested protesters.
