BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Nearly two dozen individuals were arrested for resisting law enforcement after officers responded to an encampment at Dunn Meadow.
Indiana State Police and the Indiana University Police Department responded to an encampment at Dunn Meadow on Saturday at approximately 12:20 p.m., according to a press release from the Indiana University Public Safety Department.
The release states that officers gave a series of six verbal warnings to remove the structures. At approximately 12:35 p.m., individuals who refused to remove structures from university property were detained and removed.
"After numerous written and verbal communications that free speech and protest are permissible but the presence of unapproved temporary or permanent structures violates university policy, a group of individuals erected numerous tents and canopies on Friday night with the stated intention to occupy the university space indefinitely," said IU Public Information Officer, Hannah Skibba.
Officers transported 23 individuals to the Monroe County Justice Center for charges ranging from criminal trespass to resisting law enforcement.
The arrests come after more than 30 protestors were arrested on Thursday while calling for a ceasefire in Gaza on Indiana University's campus in Bloomington.
In a video posted on Facebook, Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thompson emphasized that the Bloomington Police Department has not been involved in breaking up encampments or policing the protests.
"The Bloomington Police Department has had no involvement in policing the protests," Thompson said, "no involvement in the dismantling of the encampment, has made no arrests related to the protests and has my instruction not to be involved in these activities.
"I'm supportive of the protestors and their freedom to express themselves. I'm not supportive of unauthorized encampments, nor of violence."
During the video, Thompson also indicated that she has been in contact with IU's police. She said she was assured protestors would be welcome at Dunn Meadow, though unauthorized encampments will continue to be removed.
"What's happening at Dunn Meadow currently is part of a national movement on college campuses," Thompson said. "And it has attracted some who are believed to have an outside agenda, and indeed, be from outside our community. These agendas are known to be less than peaceful.
"The university asked the state police to come to Bloomington to enforce the removal of the encampment at Dunn Meadow on Thursday, and 10s of arrests have been made in two separate events to dismantle the encampment."
This is a developing story. Information will be updated as it becomes available.