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Drexel University on lockdown as pro-Palestinian protesters set up encampment
Drexel University officials issued a lockdown for the campus as pro-Palestinian protesters converged, setting up an encampment.
UNIVERSITY CITY - A second night of protests in University City, this time at Drexel University, as students set up an encampment and the school issued a lockdown.
School officials say 75 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered to set up the encampment Saturday night, just blocks from chaos at the University of Pennsylvania Friday night, in which 19 people were arrested.
A lockdown was issued by university officials a little after 7:30 Saturday night, stating the buildings are only open "to those with clearance from Drexel’s Public Safety."
Pro-Palestinian protesters began the night in Center City and walked to Drexel’s campus as part of the Palestine Coalition’s Nakba Day march.
UPenn protests: 19 arrested, 6 of them students, as protesters attempted to occupy campus building
19 people arrested after hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters converged on the UPenn campus in an effort to seize campus building.
It was then they set about setting up tents, while police, some in tactical gear, set up a perimeter with metal barricades.
The atmosphere has been generally peaceful, though some protesters did link arms, at one point, and attempted to break down the barricades.
The protesters are calling on the university to divest all Israeli interests and are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
School officials say they are monitoring the situation and are prepared to respond if things escalate.
"We will not tolerate the destruction of property; the harassment or intimidation of our students, faculty or professional staff; or threatening behavior of any kind, including speech that is explicitly racist, antisemitic, or Islamophobic, that creates a hostile environment for members of our community based on race, color, national origin, religious affiliation, or shared ancestry. Nor will we allow anyone who is not a member of the Drexel community to trespass into our buildings and student residences."