Over 50 arrests were made on peaceful pro-Palestinian protestors on the UT campus on Wednesday, Apr. 22.

The protest was organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee. Students walked out of class and marched to the campus lawn, intending to “occupy” the south lawn.

“Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others’ ability to learn are not allowed,” UT president Jay Hartzell said. “The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced. Our University will not be occupied.”

Over fifty people were arrested, including protestors and a Fox 7 reporter. Texas Governor Greg Abbot supported the arrests in a post on X, and said, “Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled.”

“The fact that those officers have the power to cuff with repercussions,” a protestor, who wished to remain anonymous, said. “That was a scary feeling to come face to face with. But these uncomfortable truths are what the movement is supposed to teach us, I guess.”

People gathered outside the Travis County Jail, where the protestors were being held. At no charge, lawyers from the Austin Lawyers Guild, and charges against all of those arrested have been dropped.

“It is beyond clear that Greg Abbott does not care about First Amendment rights,” Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said. “Texans’ freedoms, the loss of Palestinian life, or Israeli hostages – he only cares about himself. Once again, Texas Republicans are hellbent on placing our basic rights on the chopping block for political gain.”

Protestors had gathered to call for the freedom of Palestine, where the Gazan Health Ministry has estimated the death toll to be about 34,000. 

“I wanted to stand in solidarity with my brothers and sisters in Palestine,” the anonymous protestor said. “This could have been my fate, but by the grace of God I was born with privilege and opportunity and they are not. So I have to fight for the oppressed with my privilege and opportunity.”