(TruthAndLiberty.com) – The District of Columbia police have stated that they would not be taking down the pro-Palestinian encampment at George Washington University (GW). GOP lawmakers have slammed Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) for allowing the protest to continue. The encampment has been in place for over two weeks.
MPD Chief Pamela Smith defended the choice to allow the encampment to continue existing by pointing out that so long as it was peaceful, they did not need to clear it out. However, she pointed out that if there was a change in “behavior” at the campus then they would be clearing the encampment.
MPD spokesperson argued that Smith had said that in the District of Columbia, they allow the opportunity for people to have freedom of speech, which is what the encampment was showing. As they pointed there has so far not been any violence or confrontations. They added that if there is a change in this behavior then their processes could also change.
The spokesperson noted that Chief Smith’s approach is going to continue being their current posture. Smith’s remarks come as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel demonstrations were in full force on Thursday on the university’s campus.
House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) has pushed for Smith and Bowser to appear before his committee next week. Comer’s request came after it was reported by The Washington Post that the D.C. police had refused to clear the encampment even though the school had requested that they take action.
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