CLEVELAND — Police detained and then released around 20 people on Case Western Reserve University's campus Monday morning after they formed an encampment during a pro-Palestinian protest.
Students began gathering at 9:30 a.m. and set up tents during their protests. Police then detained the students over the tents.
A CWRU spokesperson said it's because the students broke the school's rules by bringing tents into the green.
CWRU President Eric Kaler released an additional statement on the detainments:
"Open discourse and the free exchange of ideas are hallmarks of higher education—and they are central to all that we do at Case Western Reserve. Across classrooms and common spaces, lecture halls and laboratories, and everywhere in between, challenges to the status quo are what make universities—especially ours—such powerful learning environments.
We are seeing this in action right now, as individuals in support of Palestinian liberation are protesting on the Kelvin Smith Library oval. We support these individuals’ rights to free speech, and Case Western Reserve police will protect their right to peaceful freedom of expression in accordance with our policies.
However, we want to be clear about the rules and processes moving forward for those who choose to participate in this activity:
• The university will not tolerate hate speech in any form.
• In accordance with Case Western Reserve policies, protestors must follow specific restrictions regarding the time, place and manner of such activism—including ensuring their actions do not unreasonably interfere with university operations (this includes setting up encampments on campus property and the use of disruptive sound)."
A CWRU spokesperson said students continue to protest on CWRU's campus peacefully with University Circle Police assisting. All roads remain open.
Protesters said they wanted to show that Cleveland students stand in solidarity with students across the country calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
Last week, 36 protesters were arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest on Ohio State University's campus. Nineteen of the 36 were arraigned in court Monday morning for criminal trespass.