HOUSTON — Two University of Houston students were arrested Wednesday morning after police dismantled a pro-Palestinian encampment erected on campus overnight, according to the university.
The encampment was organized by Students for Justice in Palestine, a community organization that aims to promote justice and liberation for Palestinians, according to their social media.
The university said the encampment was established by about 60 people overnight at Butler Plaza.
In a statement sent to KHOU 11 News, the organization said they launched the encampment to "demand immediate institutional divestment from companies complicit in Israel's occupation as well as an end to Israel's genocide on Gaza."
According to the university, tents and encampments are not permitted on campus grounds.
Around 7:45 a.m., UH Police Department officers gave students verbal notice to disperse and did so every 15 minutes.
Shortly after 9 a.m., UHPD officers and officers from surrounding areas removed the encampment.
During this process, campus police arrested two students after one failed to identify themselves and another assaulted a police officer and resisted arrest, according to the university.
However, one student who spoke to KHOU 11 said every student protesting at the encampment was peaceful.
"Our goal was to prove that we are here our voices will be listened to. That our methods, which are just peaceful protesting, should be heard by the university, should be enough for the university to divest from these [weapons] manufacturers," she said.
The university said the group was allowed to continue its protest under UH policies.
Wednesday afternoon, the protest moved over to the Harris County Joint Processing Center in downtown as students demanded the release of their two classmates. The students said they wouldn't leave until they were released.
One student told KHOU 11 News the goal of the protest was to force the university from investing in weapons manufacturers that sell arms to Israel.
"We do not agree with our money being used to fund violence abroad or domestic violence. We do not agree with that money being used in our name and think it is within our right to demand where our own money is being invested in," she said.