One hundred or more protesters gathered on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin on Wednesday to participate in an unruly anti-Israel demonstration.
The rowdy protests invited hundreds of onlookers, some of whom joined in on the anti-Israel chants on the school’s South Lawn. UT Austin is one of many American universities where anti-Israel protests have intensified over recent days, as the Israeli military’s war against Hamas continues in the Middle East.
The Austin Police Department (APD) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) were observed making arrests. Some officers monitored the protests on horseback.
“APD, KKK, IDF / they’re all the same,” the group was heard chanting.
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At least 20 people were arrested at an anti-Israel protest at UT Austin on Wednesday. (Bryan Preston / Fox News Digital)
Protesters also chanted “Pigs go home!” at the Texas law enforcement officers on the scene. The keffiyeh-wearing protesters attempted to set up a few tents but were quickly thwarted by police.
The DPS later told Fox News Digital that it made more than 20 arrests. The department said that the arrests were made “in order to prevent any unlawful assembly and to support UT Police in maintaining the peace by arresting anyone engaging in any sort of criminal activity, including criminal trespass.”
On X, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott denounced the protests as lawless and antisemitic.
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Protesters set up tents on the campus of UT Austin, but law enforcement quickly intervened. (Bryan Preston / Fox News Digital)
“These protesters belong in jail,” Abbott wrote. “Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period.”
“Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.”
UT Austin told Fox News Digital that it “does not tolerate” disruptive protests early Wednesday afternoon. Later that evening, UT Austin President Jay Hartzell released a statement about the protest activity, calling it a “challenging day.”
“We have witnessed much activity we normally do not experience on our campus, and there is understandably a lot of emotion surrounding these events,” Hartzell wrote.
Around 100 protesters gathered at UT Austin, which is a fraction of its student body. (Bryan Preston / Fox News Digital)
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“Today, our University held firm, enforcing our rules while protecting the Constitutional right to free speech,” he continued. “Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable. Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others’ ability to learn are not allowed.”