Art Institute of Chicago protest: 68 arrested at downtown Pro-Palestinian protest, police say; UChicago encampment continues [Video]

CHICAGO (WLS) — Pro-Palestinian protests are continuing across the country.

Dozens of arrests were carried out on the grounds of the Art Institute Saturday afternoon, just hours after a small pro-Palestinian encampment was set up in the museum’s north garden, the Chicago Police Department said. At least 68 people were arrested are being charged with criminal trespass to property, police said.

The encampment was set up by students from Columbia College Chicago and School of the Art Institute of Chicago, ABC7 was told. Video shows officers moving in to dismantle it around 4:30 p.m. Some protesters in the garden area could be seen being arrested by police, while others were escorted away.

“People of all ages are waking up to the fact that the United States is once again supporting an apartheid government,” activist Andy Thayer said.

In addition to the encampment, several dozen protesters demonstrated on the sidewalks near the Art Institute at Michigan Avenue and Monroe Street, where …