Texas sends police on horseback to disperse and arrest pro-Palestinian students

A demonstration pro-Palestine at the University of Texasin AustinThis Wednesday resulted in around twenty arrests, after police on horseback and in riot gear tried to disperse the students who were demonstrating peacefully.

At least 17 of the pro-Palestinian students were detained by police, according to local news outlet The Texas Tribune, while the Austin American-Statesman reported 20 arrests.

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The response from state authorities in the conservative state has been one of the most forceful among the student protests that erupted in USA against the war that Israel pound in Link and which have their epicenter in Columbia University (New York).

It’s chaos now. DPS riot police forcibly dispersing protesters, making contact, at least one arrest pic.twitter.com/bQqRqWyzUO

-Ryan Chandler (@RyanChandlerTV) April 24, 2024

Around 200 students were concentrated on the campus of University of Texas in the state capital, when around 50 police officers showed up to order the protesters to disperse.

Several of the police officers were on horses, others were heavily armed and most wore riot gear to disperse the students who held the peaceful protest.

The demonstration turned into a protest in the central area of ​​the campus, but the arrests continued under the pretext that they were illegally occupying the area. Some of those arrested were taken to the county jail. Travis.

The students faced police action and arrests shouting “we are not afraid of them,” while the university sent out an alert to its entire community asking them to avoid the area.

Texas State Police stand guard as pro-Palestinian students protest the war between Israel and Hamas on the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, on April 24, 2024. (Photo by Suzanne CORDEIRO/AFP) (SUZANNE LAMB/ )

US congressman Greg Casarwhose district includes Austincriticized the response of state authorities.

“Students who protest – whether you agree with them or not – have the right to safety and fair treatment. Responding to peaceful protests with guns and riot gear increases tension and makes everyone less safe”, he stated.

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Students protest against the war in Gaza and the support of the Government of Joe Biden to Israel exploded weeks ago in Columbia University and they are spreading to campuses across the country.

These protests are taking over the media and political scene in U.S with Republicans and a significant part of Democrats condemning the demonstrations and accusing the students of anti-Semitism and even supporting Hamas.

The President of the Chamber of Deputies, michael johnsonwas in Colombia this Wednesday to meet with pro-Israel students and give a press conference to denounce what he considers to be an anti-Semitic movement.

Source: Elcomercio