Students arrested, charged with trespass at Ohio State University (2024)

Hundreds were arrested at USC, Emerson and UT Austin in the last day.

ByABC NEWS

Last Updated: April 28, 2024, 8:52 PM

Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza.

Many pro-Palestinian protesters are calling for their colleges to divest of funds from Israeli military operations, while some Jewish students on the campuses have called the protests antisemitic and said they are scared for their safety.

The student protests -- some of which have turned into around-the-clock encampments -- have erupted throughout the nation following arrests and student removals at Columbia University in New York City. Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California and more have launched protests.

  • Arizona State University arrests 69 people, clears pro-Palestinian encampment
  • Northeastern University detains 100 protesters, removes encampment
  • NYU students set up new encampment days after over 130 students, faculty arrested
  • Students arrested, charged with trespass at Ohio State University
  • DPS says they used a Taser, pepper balls at Emory, but not tear gas

Here's how the news is developing.

Apr 28, 8:52 PM EDT

UCLA announced it is instituting additional security measures amid protests on campus over the Israel-Hamas war in a statement on Sunday.

"UCLA has a long history of peaceful protest and we are heartbroken to report that today, some physical altercations broke out among demonstrators on Royce Quad," Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications said.

"We have since instituted additional security measures and increased the numbers of our safety team members on site," Osako said.

"As an institution of higher education, we stand firmly for the idea that even when we disagree, we must still engage respectfully and recognize one another’s humanity," Osako continued.

Addressing the physical altercations during the protests, Osako said, "We are dismayed that certain individuals instead chose to jeopardize the physical safety of the community."

Last week, the University of California rejected calls to divest from companies that do business with Israel.

Apr 28, 10:07 AM EDT

The White House said Sunday that President Joe Biden respects the right of demonstrators to make their voices heard -- peacefully -- and "we don't want to see anybody hurt in the process."

"The president knows that there are very strong feelings about the war in Gaza. He understands that, he respects that, and as he has said many times, we certainly respect the right of peaceful protest. People should have the ability to air their views and to share their perspectives publicly, but it has to be peaceful," White House national security spokesman John Kirby told ABC News "This Week" anchor George Stephanopoulos on Sunday.

Hamas is ‘considering' hostage deal on the table: John Kirby

Kirby did warn that some language heard during the demonstrations crossed a line with the administration.

"We absolutely condemn the antisemitism language that we've heard of late, and we certainly condemn all the hate speech and the threats of violence out there. These protests, we understand they're important, but they do need to be peaceful," he said.

"We'll leave it to local authorities to determine how these protests are managed," Kirby told Stephanopoulos, "but we want them to be peaceful protests and obviously we don't want to see anybody hurt in the process of peacefully protesting."

-ABC News' Tal Axelrod

Apr 28, 12:07 AM EDT

The University of Southern California closed its main campus Saturday evening "due to a disturbance," the university said on X.

Los Angeles Police Department issued a citywide tactical alert due to a protest on USC's campus, urging people to avoid the area.

A tactical alert allows LAPD to keep officers on past their shifts and to move officers between divisions if they need extra staffing in one area of the city.

Apr 27, 10:54 PM EDT

"There is no truth to claims of an impending lockdown or evictions on campus," Columbia University said in a memo to students Saturday evening.

The dialogue between the university officials and the student organizers remains ongoing, according to the university.

Apr 26, 9:07 AM EDT

Students were arrested and charged with trespass at Ohio State University after refusing to leave a pro-Palestinian encampment late Thursday.

"Well established university rules prohibit camping and overnight events. Demonstrators exercised their first amendment rights for several hours and were then instructed to disperse. Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass," the university said in a statement to ABC News.

Videos show protesters chanting and tussling with officers outside the Ohio State University student union building. In another video, police can be heard issuing a loudspeaker warning to a dispersing crowd at OSU as a helicopter flies overhead.

Another video shows an officer tackling someone to the ground as other officers force people back and another person falls to the ground.

-ABC News' Matthew Holroyd and Ahmad Hemingway

Students arrested, charged with trespass at Ohio State University (2)

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Students arrested, charged with trespass at Ohio State University (2024)

FAQs

Why were osu students arrested? ›

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As about 20 people facing criminal charges after protesting Israel's war in Gaza on Ohio State University's campus were due in court Monday morning, Ohio State's president stood behind the arrests and the city attorney's office said it was still deciding whether to move forward with prosecutions ...

Why are they protesting at Ohio State university? ›

Protesters are calling for universities to divest their finances from companies and institutions with connections to Israel, transparency over their financial investments and an immediate ceasefire in Palestine.

How many students arrested Gaza? ›

More than 1,600 students have been arrested across the United States as protestors on university campuses continue to demand a ceasefire and divestment from companies enabling Israel's nearly seven-month war on Gaza.

What is the crime rate at Ohio State university? ›

In 2022, the most recent available data, there were 357 crimes reported across OSU's Columbus main campus, about a 7% decrease from 2021.

What serial killer was an Ohio State alumni? ›

Thomas Dillon
Criminal penalty5 terms of 30 years to life for aggravated murder 15 years additional for gun specification
Details
Victims5 known
Span of crimesApril 1, 1989 – April 5, 1992
10 more rows

How many are arrested at osu? ›

More than 30 people were arrested Thursday at Ohio State University during a protest against Israel on campus. The protest was the latest on U.S. campuses to end with police intervention and arrests.

Is Ohio State University LGBTQ friendly? ›

Ohio State encourages its LGBTQ+ students to take advantage of hundreds of on- and off-campus opportunities to get involved.

What is the NCAA scandal with Ohio State? ›

The Ohio State University football scandal concerned NCAA rules violations and other incidents committed by the Ohio State Buckeyes football team during the tenure of former head coach Jim Tressel from 2001 to 2011. An investigation of the program was joined by the NCAA, the FBI, and the U.S. Department of Justice.

Why do they always say The Ohio State University? ›

The change from simply "OSU" was said to "reflect the national stature of the institution." University officials wanted the institution to be known as "The Ohio State University," again, to avoid confusion over similarly abbreviated colleges (such as Oregon State University and Oklahoma State University).

Why are students being arrested on college campuses? ›

Law enforcement officers in riot gear have arrested hundreds of students and faculty for participating in pro-Palestinian encampments on several campuses, including Pomona College, University of Southern California, Cal Poly Humboldt, UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Irvine.

Why are protestors being arrested at colleges? ›

Over the past couple of months, more than 2,000 students have been arrested at colleges and universities around the U.S. for protesting Israel's bombardment of Gaza. That's more student protesters arrested than at any point since the massive anti–Vietnam War demonstrations of the late 1960s.

How many Christians are left in Gaza? ›

In 2009, there were an estimated 50,000 Christians in the Palestinian territories, mostly in the West Bank, with about 3,000 in the Gaza Strip. In 2022, about 1,100 Christians lived in the Gaza Strip – down from over 1300 in 2014.

What is the reputation of Ohio State University? ›

The Ohio State University is ranked #43 out of 439 National Universities. Schools are ranked according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.

What is the safest college in Ohio? ›

Kent State University is committed to the safety and security of all of our students. According to the FBI Uniform Crime Statistics report, Kent State is ranked among the safest campuses in Ohio, based on the number of reported crimes.

What college has the worst crime rate? ›

10 Most Dangerous College Campuses in the US
CollegeCrime per 1,000 Students
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Central Danville Campus138.3
Xavier University73.57
Ohio State University59.93
University of Iowa33.67
6 more rows
May 9, 2024

When did osu allow black students? ›

The Ohio State University, located in Columbus, was founded in 1870 as an agricultural facility. It was not until 1889 that the school admitted its first Black student, Frederick Patterson.

What happens if you get caught cheating at osu? ›

Any student found "in violation of the Code of Student Conduct" receives a disciplinary sanction such as a letter of reprimand, disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal.

How did hang on sloopy became osu? ›

In the summer of '65, he was working at the Ohio State Fair when he heard "Hang on Sloopy" playing over the midway speakers. The percussion student immediately knew it could be arranged for a marching band. But he first had to convince his professor, Charlie Spohn, to let him arrange it for Ohio State's marching band.

Why did osu change their name? ›

The change from simply "OSU" was said to "reflect the national stature of the institution." University officials wanted the institution to be known as "The Ohio State University," again, to avoid confusion over similarly abbreviated colleges (such as Oregon State University and Oklahoma State University).

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