Updated 10:45 am Tuesday: VCU President Michael Rao issued a statement to the university community Tuesday morning, saying the community "cherishes the right to peaceful protest, setting up structures on our campus lawn violated our policy." Rao said staff repeatedly and respectfully asked protesters to comply before police moved in to disperse the gathering.
"It's essential to recognize that the vast majority of events at VCU occur without incident," Rao continued. "It's in this spirit of togetherness that I believe our community will move forward."
Original Story: Dozens of police officers dispersed a pro-Palestinian protest outside Virginia Commonwealth University's library in downtown Richmond Monday night.
A few dozen people began the protest Monday morning on a lawn outside the library. The gathering grew through the day and appeared to include several hundred people by the evening. Some erected tents and others brought wooden pallets and plywood to form a perimeter around the area.
Around 8:30 pm dozens of campus and state police officers began forming around the protest. Police carried riot shields and some wore gas masks. A statement from VCU said school officials repeatedly gave protesters an opportunity to leave. Those who didn't faced arrest.
Final exams begin this week and VCU must provide students the opportunity to safely and successfully complete the semester. The gathering violated several university policies. pic.twitter.com/Kj13WtI4TM
— VCU (@VCU) April 30, 2024
Police eventually began to disperse the protesters. Some chemical irritants were released and at least a few protesters were detained. It's unclear how many, if any, were arrested.
As police moved through the protest site, crews followed to disassemble and remove the tents and other items left behind by the protesters.
This report, provided by Virginia Public Radio, was made possible with support from the Virginia Education Association.
