DC police say officers won't take down GW encampment despite GOP demands
District of Columbia police defended its decision to let the pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University (GW) stand, despite calls from Republican lawmakers for it to be cleared.
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and Mayor Muriel Bowser have been scrutinized for allowing the protest at GW to continue. The encampment has been up for more than two weeks.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith argued that as long as the encampment is peaceful, it will not have to be cleared, but that could change if a shift in “behavior” occurs on the private university’s campus, according to a report by NBC Washington.
“I think here in the District of Columbia, we allow people the opportunity to have freedom of speech, and that’s what we’re seeing right now. There has been no violence, no violent behavior, no confrontations,” Smith said, according to an MPD spokesperson. “If the behavior changes, then our procedures and our process might change.”
The spokesperson also told The Hill, “The approach Chief Smith mentioned here remains our current posture.”
Smith’s comments come as both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel rallies were held Thursday on GW’s campus.
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has called Bowser and Smith to testify before the committee next week over the ongoing protest. Comer’s request to grill officials follows the report from The Washington Post stating that D.C. police refused to clear the encampment despite the school calling for it.
“The House Oversight Committee is deeply concerned over reports indicating the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department rejected George Washington University’s request for help in removing the radical, antisemitic, and unlawful protestors occupying the campus and surrounding public lands,” Comer said.
Comer along with conservative lawmakers visited the campus, where they sparred with protesters, with some even threatening to withhold federal funding from the institution.
Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert (Colo.), Byron Donalds (Fla.) and Anna Paulina Luna (Fla.) all encountered protesters at GW and called for city officials to assist the school.
“That being said, the mayor has a responsibility to support George Washington. The encampment is now trespassing. That is what the university president and the administration has said: You are trespassing on GW. They’ve asked for support from the mayor. Mayor Bowser doesn’t want to come and support them. She needs to do her job,” Donalds said.
Date: |
Filter
-
Police clear protest encampment over war in Gaza at UC Irvine
Police have cleared a lecture hall at the University of California-Irvine after hundreds of protesters occupied the building for several hours Wednesday. Officers dismantled an encampment and barricades while detaining some of the protesters. CBS ...CBS News - Top stories -
Chicago police clears anti-war, Pro-Palestine encampment
Yahoo News - World -
WATCH LIVE: Protesters speak out after encampment dismantled at DePaul
Yahoo News - World -
SFSU protesters break down encampment after reaching agreement
Yahoo News - World -
Tom Brady won't be restricted on NFL games he can broadcast despite pending ownership deal with Raiders
An NFL exec says as of right now, 'Tom's able to call any game on the schedule'CBS Sports - Sports - NFL -
Thomas Tuchel won't return to Bayern Munich despite new contract talks: 'We couldn't reach an agreement'
Tuchel and Bayern first agreed he'd leave in February before rekindling talksCBS Sports - Sports -
French police say a man shot and killed outside a synagogue came at officers with a knife and a metal bar
French police say a man shot and killed outside a synagogue came at officers with a knife and a metal barABC News - World -
French police shoot dead armed man who set fire to Rouen synagogue – Europe live
The attacker was carrying a knife and iron bar, according to local authorities. Chmouel Lubecki, a rabbi in Rouen, said today’s incident was “shocking.”. “It is important to light the candles of Shabbat to exactly show that we are not afraid,” he ...The Guardian - World -
Police: Officer dragged trying to stop Scheffler
The police officer who tried to stop Scottie Scheffler from entering Valhalla Golf Club on Friday morning was dragged to the ground and suffered "pain, swelling and abrasions" to his left wrist and knee after the car accelerated, per the incident ...ESPN - Sports
More from The Hill
-
Future Forward super PAC raises eyebrows in Biden World
Allies to President Biden are concerned that Future Forward — the preferred super PAC backing the president's reelection bid — isn’t doing enough in the late spring and summer months to help build a narrative boosting the president and his ...The Hill - Politics - Joe Biden -
Scaramucci: Trump hush money trial serving as 'obligatory loyalty test'
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said Friday that former President Trump’s New York Hush money trial is serving as an “obligatory loyalty test.” “It's a section of high-ranking… Republican officials, but it's an ...The Hill - Politics - Donald Trump -
Van Jones rails against Greene after spat with Dems: 'She’s a disgrace to that Congress'
CNN commentator Van Jones slammed Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) following her personal attacks on a fellow member of Congress during a House Oversight Committee hearing Thursday night. The committee hearing, held to vote on whether to ...The Hill - Politics -
Nearly 900K Yogi tea bags recalled for excessive pesticide residue
Nearly 900,000 Yogi tea bags have been recalled after excessive levels of pesticide residues were detected, according to details posted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.The Hill - Politics -
Paul McCartney is Britain's 1st billionaire musician, according to annual rich list
Paul McCartney is a billionaire Beatle.The Hill - Politics