TEMPE, Ariz. — A pro-Palestine protest on Arizona State University's Tempe campus Friday morning is under investigation by city and school police and has been declared an unlawful assembly. Watch the scene live in the video at the top of this story.
Around midnight on Saturday morning, law enforcement officers from multiple agencies, including ASU police, Tempe police and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, marched on the protest, clad in riot gear, in an effort to break it up.
However, many of the protesters had gathered together on the lawn outside of Old Main on ASU's campus, with many of them being taken into custody.
12News had live coverage of the protest after it was declared unlawful, watch the video below to see what happened when police went to break up the protest.
Protesters who were taken into custody were taken to a bus on College Avenue, just north of ASU's campus, to be processed by law enforcement.
State troopers broke up the final group of protesters outside of Old Main and took them into custody at about 1:45 a.m. on Saturday.
Protesters had gathered around 8 a.m. on Friday on the school's alumni lawn to protest the Israel-Hamas conflict. Helicopter footage captured a small crowd of people set up with tents and megaphones.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Protesta en el campus de Tempe de ASU provoca investigación policial y también arrestos
Tempe and ASU police were also filmed nearby. Tempe police confirmed that they were assisting in the investigation, mostly led by campus police. ASU issued the following statement:
"Arizona State University Police arrested individuals for setting up an unauthorized encampment, in violation of university policy and the ABOR Student Code of Conduct. Encampments and unlawful assembly are prohibited on Arizona State University property unless they are part of a university-sanctioned activity. Individuals found setting up unapproved encampments will be directed to dismantle them immediately and failure to comply may result in arrest. ASU is committed to maintaining a secure environment for everyone."
ASU officials said three people were arrested.
Protesters demanded a public list of any ASU investments, for ASU to divest itself from any Israeli company. Some protesters also called for the resignation of university president Michael Crow and the abolition of the ASU and Tempe police departments.
The university released this statement following Friday's arrests:
Demonstrations, protests and expressions of free speech are protected at Arizona State University, consistent with the First Amendment. Peaceful expression of views is always acceptable – but demonstrations cannot disrupt university operations. ASU is committed to maintaining a secure environment for everyone.
It is not clear exactly how many people were taken into custody when police went in to break up the protest.
ASU was unable to provide a spokesperson for 12News to talk to as the events unfolded on Friday night and early Saturday morning, but the university says they will soon have an update.
This is a developing story. Stay with 12News as we continue to update this story with more information.
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