Videos depict groups of students hurling projectiles, including bottles and wooden boards, at a line of riot police.
Riot police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, prompting emergency officials to issue a shelter-in-place order for those caught in the middle.
The protestors at VCU had established a pro-Palestinian encampment and made a series of demands. Screenshots shared on social media platforms warned against approaching Cadell Library and Monroe Park until further notice. Additionally, videos circulated showing individuals launching objects at riot police who were moving forward in a shield formation.
Although the university has not directly addressed the reported violence on campus, it released a statement emphasizing the importance of allowing students to complete their final exams safely. The gathering was deemed in violation of university policies, and individuals, many of whom were not students, were given multiple opportunities to leave before facing arrest for trespassing.
Amid protests across the nation against Israel’s conflict with Hamas, demands for universities to sever business ties with Israel and denounce the war have intensified. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, with a Hamas attack on Israel, leading to a retaliatory military campaign by Israel to diminish Hamas’ capabilities in Gaza.
The Hamas attack resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties in Israel, primarily civilians. In Gaza, the Hamas-run Health Ministry reported about 34,000 deaths since the conflict erupted, with international criticism mounting over the toll on noncombatants.
Protests in support of Palestine have sparked crackdowns at various universities, including Yale, Harvard, Tufts, and New York University. The ongoing demonstrations have drawn criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who likened them to the Nazi influence seen in German universities in the 1930s.
Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed support for the right to protest but disagreed with calls for a ceasefire in Gaza during a media briefing after a campaign rally in New York City. Can you provide a rewritten version of the text below?
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