Three protesters were arrested at the University of Chicago Friday afternoon, days after the anniversary of the start of the Israel-Hamas war, according to the university.
In a statement, university officials said a group of protesters marched from a campus rally and “used locks” to block access to campus through a gate on 57th Street around 3:20 p.m. Friday.
Protesters began spray-painting buildings and public art near the intersection of South Ellis Avenue and 57th Street, according to the statement. “Protesters instigated confrontations with police by physically surrounding a police car, further vandalizing and damaging property, blocking the public road, and striking police officers who responded,” the statement said.
Two people were arrested for battery to a police officer, and one was arrested for criminal damage. The university did not say whether the people arrested were students.
University and Chicago police officers responded to the scene.
The Chicago Maroon, the school’s student newspaper, reported the protest was hosted by UChicago United for Palestine, a group committed to Palestinian liberation. Earlier this week, the group posted on Instagram about having a campus rally at 2:30 p.m. Friday. The group could not be reached by the Tribune Friday evening.
“The University of Chicago is fundamentally committed to upholding the rights of protesters to express their views on any issue,” the statement also said. “At the same time, University policies make it clear that protests cannot jeopardize public safety, disrupt the University’s operations, or involve the destruction of property.”
Last month, the university announced it received a $100 million gift from an anonymous donor to support free expression. In a news release, the university said the gift comes at “a pivotal time of opportunities and threats to free expression at U.S. universities and internationally.”
Monday was the first anniversary of the start of the Israel-Hamas war — a conflict that has touched the Chicago area in many ways.