Police begin breaking up UPenn protests

PHL17 was on scene as police arrested and cleared a pro-Palestinian camp on the University of Pennsylvania campus early Friday morning. The move to dismantle the camp followed a warning from officials to leave campus or face arrest.

The protesters were in front of the Ben Franklin statue on College Green. After being awake for more than two weeks, officers dismantled their tents while some protesters left and others were carried by officers and placed into police vehicles.

The Penn protests are among student protests at some colleges and universities across the country over the Israel-Hamas war. The protesters reportedly called on Pennsylvania State University officials to stop providing financial support to Israel.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Thursday reportedly called on the University of Pennsylvania to disband the encampment “to restore order and security on campus” as he delivered remarks at an event in Westmoreland County.