The Republican governor, via social media, asserts that "no encampments will be allowed," even as videos emerge depicting police employing pepper spray.

Protesters who assembled once more at the University of Texas at Austin on Monday were met with a substantial presence of law enforcement officers, many outfitted in riot gear. A total of 43 protesters were taken into custody as police and campus security employed pepper spray and flash-bang charges to disperse the crowd.

Greg Abbott, the Republican governor, shared footage on social media depicting troopers arriving at the 50,000-student campus. In his post, Abbott declared, “No encampments will be allowed. Instead, arrests are being made.”

Students commenced gathering on the university’s south lawn Monday afternoon, voicing chants of “Free Palestine!” and “Whose lawn? Our lawn!” as they erected tents.

Following reports of the arrests, social media platforms were inundated with videos showing protesters being sprayed with pepper spray as law enforcement officials pushed them off the roadway. According to defense attorney George Lobb, Texas state troopers utilized pepper spray and flash-bang charges in effecting the 43 arrests.

Videos circulated on social media depicted police officers removing individual students from a grassy area where protesters had gathered, linking arms and sitting down. Some demonstrators could be heard shouting, “Let them go!” while state troopers in riot gear stood watch behind the uniformed police.

Last week, a large contingent of police, including some on horseback and armed with batons, forcefully moved in on protesters at the university, causing some to fall onto the street. The arrests were carried out under the direction of both the university authorities and Governor Abbott, as reported by the state public safety department.

In New York, where Columbia University's campus has become a focal point of nationwide protests, activists refused to adhere to the 2 pm deadline given to respond to an ultimatum. Instead, they responded with chants, clapping, and drumming from the encampment, which comprised over 300 individuals.

No officials were observed entering the encampment, and at least 120 tents remained standing even after the deadline had passed. Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters marched around the quad, maneuvering around stacks of temporary flooring and green carpeting intended for graduation ceremonies.

A small number of counter-demonstrators displayed Israeli flags, with one holding a sign questioning the absence of anti-Hamas chants.

In a statement, protest organizers accused the university of resorting to "violent escalation" and expressed their readiness to escalate their actions in response.

"The university's threat today follows days of unproductive negotiations, during which the university failed to seriously consider our demands for divestment, financial transparency, and amnesty for students and faculty involved in the movement for Palestinian liberation," the statement added.

Many students are urging their universities to sever financial ties with Israel. The nationwide tally of arrests on campuses is nearing 1,000. The protests have even extended to Europe, where French police removed dozens of students from the Sorbonne university after pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the main courtyard.

As the semester draws to a close and campuses gear up for graduation ceremonies, universities are increasingly motivated to clear encampments. The University of Southern California has canceled its main graduation ceremony.

However, students at some prominent universities have remained steadfast, with standoffs persisting at Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale, and others.

At Yale, protesters established a new encampment with dozens of tents on Sunday, nearly a week after police arrested nearly 50 individuals and dismantled a similar encampment nearby. They were warned by a Yale official that continued participation could result in disciplinary action, including suspension and possible arrest.

Yale stated in a Monday statement that while it supports peaceful protests and freedom of speech, it does not tolerate policy violations such as encampments. School officials emphasized that the protest site is close to residential colleges where many students are preparing for final exams, and that permission is required for groups to host events and erect structures on campus.

Columbia University's management of the protests has sparked federal complaints.

A class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Jewish students asserts that Columbia breached its contract by allegedly failing to uphold a safe learning environment, despite its policies and assurances. The lawsuit also questions the transition away from in-person classes and seeks expedited court intervention to compel Columbia to ensure the security of its students.

In parallel, a legal organization representing pro-Palestinian students is calling on the US Department of Education's civil rights office to investigate Columbia's adherence to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 regarding the treatment of these students.

A spokesperson for the university declined to comment on the complaints.