George Washington University (GWU) requested assistance from the DC Metropolitan Police to relocate an unauthorized protest encampment on its campus early Friday morning. The university's officials sought to clear the encampment, which was in violation of campus policies on private property. However, the DC police declined to intervene, citing concerns about the public perception of moving against a small group of peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrators. This decision was influenced by city officials in the police chief’s and mayor’s office, who advised against police action due to potential negative optics.
George Washington University asked DC police to help clear a policy-violating encampment on their private property. But "city officials in the police chief’s and mayor’s office told police to stand down and said that it would look bad publicly for police to disrupt a 'small…
D.C. police rejected pleas from GWU officials to clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators out of an on-campus encampment Friday, saying they worried about the optics of moving against a small number of peaceful protesters, according to two officials. https://t.co/ZcUIQGqXrR
“DC police rejected pleas from George Washington University officials to clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators out of an on-campus encampment early Friday morning, saying they worried about the optics of moving against a small number of peaceful protesters.” https://t.co/VmfNQfpMZw
D.C. police rejected GWU’s plea to sweep out university protesters https://t.co/HcqKErcers
BREAKING: George Washington University said DC Metropolitan Police asked to assist in relocating an “unauthorized protest encampment” on campus. - CNN https://t.co/t6gPwj3vrt
CNN: George Washington University has requested the help of DC police to relocate an unauthorized protest encampment https://t.co/WY2nYNCzXg
George Washington University says it has called in the DC police. https://t.co/KHRaLQWJnk
George Washington University says they’ve called in the DC police. https://t.co/gZrKTJ8rSF