Nineteen masked student protesters were arrested over the weekend during an anti-Israel rally at Pomona College in California.
ABC7 News reports the anti-Israel group ‘Pomona Divest Apartheid’ organized the rally at Alexander Hall in Pomona College on Saturday. It comes after a mural supporting “Palestine” was taken down by university administrators.
Gabbi Starr, the president of Pomona College, warned of potential suspension or arrest if the pro-Hamas protesters refused to vacate the building within ten minutes. Despite the ultimatum, they refused to listen, resulting in anti-riot police escorting them out in handcuffs after the allotted time. Eighteen students were arrested for trespassing, and one student was arrested for obstruction of justice.
The university made it clear in a statement that while they support free speech and the right to protest, they also enforce certain rules. They won’t allow people wearing masks who don’t show their IDs on campus. The university is also against any form of harassment or racial insults aimed at visitors or staff. If a Pomona student engages in such behavior, the university will immediately suspend them and instruct them to leave the campus.
