Columbia University in New York City has initiated the suspension of students participating in a pro-Palestinian protest on campus, as they persisted despite a deadline to disperse.
Prior to the deadline of 14:00 EST (18:00 GMT) on Monday, college officials cautioned that those remaining at the two-week encampment would face disciplinary measures.
Despite the warning, numerous students gathered at the site as the deadline elapsed.
Meanwhile, in Texas, police detained numerous protesters and dismantled their encampment at the University of Texas at Austin after they disregarded instructions to remove their tents.
University authorities reported discovering “baseball-size rocks” within the encampment and noted that the “majority of protesters are believed to be unaffiliated with the university.”
Similar demonstrations have unfolded nationwide since the clearance of another encampment at Columbia earlier this month.
Pressure has mounted on Columbia’s leadership, prompting calls for action or resignation.
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the situation at Columbia, characterizing it as “an utter disgrace,” and alleging that the campus is facing issues of anti-Semitism among both students and faculty.
The Louisiana Republican reiterated his demand for the resignation of the university’s president, Nemat Shafik.