PA College Locked Down As Pro-Palestinian Group Sets Up Encampment

PHILADELPHIA — After more than a dozen people were arrested for trying to occupy a University of Pennsylvania building over the weekend as part of a Gaza solidarity movement, Drexel University's campus has been locked down due to protesters with similar motives, officials said.

Drexel's President John Fry Sunday said due to the pro-Palestinian encampment that was set up on Korman Quad Saturday night, university buildings and facilities have been placed on lockdown.

The university is using remote learning and virtual operations for all nonessential personnel Monday.

Fry said about 40 to 60 people are at the encampment without the university’s permission or authorization. The lockdown, Fry said, was enacted to "minimize the possibility of further disruptions, including attempts by protesters to occupy our learning and working spaces."

Access to locked down buildings and facilities is being provided only to certain people with clearance from Drexel Public Safety.

Fry said the school got reports of "protesters subjecting passersby to antisemitic speech, signs and chants."

"These kinds of hateful and intimidating acts must be condemned, and they cannot and will not be tolerated," he said. "Those who wish to report incidents or share their concerns are encouraged to contact our Office of Institutional Equity and Inclusive Culture."

Fry said the school has communicated with the protesters and is working to get them to end the encampment and said any students involved in the encampment, which Fry said is not legally protected, could face disciplinary action for violating our Student Code of Conduct. Protesters who are not students are trespassing, he said.

The group, which has called itself the Drexel Palestine Coalition, has issued the school several demands aiming to "hold Drexel accountable for the harm it has caused through its investments linked to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and for the repression of student activism."

This is a developing story, check back for updates.