A defaced statue of George Washington at its namesake school in Washington, D.C., was seen covered Wednesday after police cleared an anti-Israel encampment and arrested dozens of protesters.
For nearly two weeks, the statue was covered in Palestinian iconography, including multiple flags, a keffiyeh and stickers that read: “Free Palestine” and “Free Gaza.”
George Washington University spokesperson Josh Grossman told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that the school planned to “engage on restoring the statue with professionals who are best equipped to manage this work when we are ready to proceed.”
Bowser on Monday said city officials and the police declined the university’s request to intervene because there wasn’t any violence for officers to interrupt.
George Washington had warned of possible suspensions for continuing the camp on University Yard.
Protesters carrying signs reading “Free Palestine” and “Hands off Rafah” also marched to school President Ellen Granberg’s home Tuesday night.
“I am pleased that the potential Oversight hearing led to swift action by Mayor Bowser and MPD Chief Smith.
Tensions have ratcheted up in standoffs with protesters of the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the United States.
A vandalized statue of George Washington at the school bearing his name in Washington, D.C. was seen on Wednesday after police arrested dozens of protestors and cleared an anti-Israel camp.
Palestinian symbols, such as several flags, a keffiyeh, and stickers that said “Free Palestine” and “Free Gaza,” were plastered over the statue for practically two weeks. At the base, the words “Genocidal Warmonger University” were spray-painted.
Speaking with Fox News Digital on Tuesday, a spokesman for George Washington University Josh Grossman stated that the university intended to “engage on restoring the statue with professionals who are best equipped to manage this work when we are ready to proceed.”. ****.
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Similar to other American universities, GWU has been the target of intense anti-Israel demonstrations, where protesters have camped out on campus and demanded that administrators sever all connections with Israel due to the latter’s involvement in the Gaza War.
A few Republican members of the House oversight panel visited the campus last week and expressed their disapproval of DdotC. D.C and Mayor Muriel Bowser. police for turning down the university’s request for their assistance. Bowser said on Monday that the police and city authorities turned down the university’s request for their intervention because there was no violence for them to put an end to.
To testify before the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability on Wednesday afternoon, Democratic congressman Bowser and Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith were called to discuss how they handled the protest.
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However, the committee decided not to proceed with the hearing after GWU police cleared the tent encampment early on Wednesday. 33 people were taken into custody by the police, some of them for violent crimes and breaking and entering.
According to Bowser, changing information about growing threats led her and Smith to decide to evacuate the camp. The mayor declared, “Public safety and responsibility always form the foundation of our response to demonstrations.”.
Signs indicated that “the protest was becoming less stable and more volatile,” according to Smith. According to Jeffrey Carroll, the executive assistant chief of the police department, among them were signs that demonstrators had “gathered improvised weapons” and were “casing” university buildings with the potential to take them over.
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Pepper spray was used, according to police, to disperse protesters attempting to breach police perimeters and enter the encampment.
Should the camp on University Yard continue, George Washington had threatened to suspend him. Protesters also marched to the home of school president Ellen Granberg on Tuesday night, holding signs that read “Hands off Rafah” and “Free Palestine.”.
The university released a statement saying: “The encampment had turned into an illegal activity, with participants in flagrant violation of numerous city and university regulations, even though the university is dedicated to defending students’ rights to free expression. “.
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The chairman of the House Oversight and Accountability Committee is James Comer, a Republican from Kentucky. stated that he had spoken with the mayor earlier on Wednesday and “congratulated her on the successful removal of the trespasser from the GW Campus.”. “.
“It was regrettable that the circumstances at GW compelled the Oversight Committee to take action, but it was clear that the DC police department would not carry out its duties. In order to find out why the Mayor would not follow the law, we therefore decided to hold a public hearing after meeting with GW leadership and visiting the encampment,” Comer stated. “I am happy that Mayor Bowser and MPD Chief Smith moved quickly in response to the possible oversight hearing. D.C will still be held. authorities responsible for making sure everyone is safe in the capital of our country. “.
In standoffs with proponents of the Israel-Hamas war on American campuses, tensions have escalated. Some universities responded to the protests with immediate vigor, while others chose to put up with them. Still others grew impatient and called the police because they were worried about how the demonstrations would affect campus life and safety.
According to figures based on information from The Associated Press, university and law enforcement agency statements, and reports, about 2,800 people have been arrested on 50 campuses since April 18.
A demonstration at Columbia University in New York served as the catalyst for the movement.
