AUSTIN – The scene at the University of Texas-Austin has become increasingly chaotic after hundreds of people gathered on campus for a protest Monday.
KXAN reports the University of Texas at Austin Police took action on Monday afternoon, issuing a dispersal order during a protest on the South Mall.
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UT police swiftly issued the dispersal order shortly after 1 p.m. as protesters congregated with pro-Palestine signage, and formed a circle around tents they’d set up.
Reports from various journalists in Austin began flooding X on Monday afternoon, documenting the protest.
KXAN’s Jala Washington was on campus and reported the arrival of Texas Department of Public Safety Troopers and additional law enforcement personnel, who began putting up barriers around 1:30 p.m.
This incident follows last Wednesday’s events when 57 individuals were detained and booked into Travis County Jail after a pro-Palestinian protest on campus.
An Austin photojournalist also faces a felony charge after he was arrested during the protest.
“They said that I hit an officer. I didn’t hit an officer. They were pushing me. They were pushing me,” he said. “This never happened to me, you know what I mean? I was just covering things… I told them I was press.”
However, the Travis County Attorney’s office announced on Friday that after reviewing the cases, they found insufficient probable cause to proceed with charges.
Additionally, several campuses across the United States saw protests on Monday, with a few universities threatening to suspend students who don’t leave the area.
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