The last day of classes at UNC-Chapel Hill was canceled Tuesday afternoon after demonstrations over the Israel-Hamas war escalated into confrontations involving protesters, counter-protesters and police.
- The cancelation came hours after campus police arrested around 30 people who camped out on the university's main quad early Tuesday morning.
Why it matters: The protests, which mirrored similar events at university campuses across the country , had attracted hundreds of students — including those from other institutions like N.C. State and Duke.
The latest: After police cleared the area Tuesday morning, UNC's campus was quiet for a few hours hours before hundreds of demonstrators returned to the quad around noon.
- The demonstrations intensified after protesters replaced the American flag at the center of campus with a Palestinian flag, leading to a confrontation with police.
Zoom out: The levity of UNC's last day of class — campus was filled with the sounds of a DJ blaring and squeals from students celebrating nearby — stood in contrast to the escalating tension on the school's main quad.
Catch up quick: UNC Students for Justice in Palestine, the group that organized the demonstrations, has been calling on the university to disclose any investments and divest from any companies connected to Israel as well as end any study abroad programs in Israel.
- The protest began last Friday on the school's main quad, Polk Place, and went on for days — though university officials had warned protesters at 5:37am Tuesday that they would face arrest for putting up encampments on campus grounds because it is a violation of school rules.
- At 6am, campus police began dispersing the group and detained about 30 people who refused to leave, according to a release from UNC-Chapel Hill. UNC Students for Justice in Palestine described the arrests as "violent" on X.
- Polk Place was cleared of all remaining debris from the days-long protest — though UNC accused students of attempting to forcibly enter the school administration's building.
Signs left behind by demonstrators near UNC's South Building. Photo: Katie Peralta Soloff/Axios
State of play: UNC SJP said that everyone who had been arrested early Tuesday as part of the encampment on the quad had been released. It's not clear
- UNC campus police were assisted by the Orange County Sheriff's Department, while the town of Chapel Hill police did not participate, according to The News & Observer.
What they're saying: "We were disappointed that we had to take action this morning regarding protesters, including many who are not members of the Carolina community, who violated state law and University policies that provide for peaceful demonstration," interim chancellor Lee Roberts said in a statement.
Go deeper: What pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses want
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