20 Brown University Students Arrested During Ceasefire Protest on Campus for Posing ‘Security Concerns’: College

A student-led, sit-in protest at the office of Brown University's president led to the removal and arrest of 20 Jewish students for trespassing and posing "security concerns," according to the university.

The demonstration was spearheaded by the student group BrownU Jews for Ceasefire Now, and occupied the school's main administrative building, University Hall, calling for Brown University President Christina Paxson to publicly commit to a divestment from companies that "enable war crimes in Gaza" and promote a ceasefire in the region.

The protest began just after 12 p.m., and students were instructed to leave the building at around 5:25 p.m., according to a university spokesperson.

According to the university, the school allowed for the protest within the building's operational hours "as long as their activities did not raise security concerns and did not disrupt normal operations." The school said the students were blocking a hallway and violating the building's fire codes.

At 5 p.m., the university said it told the students they would "face arrest for trespass after the close of business, given security issues" and that they "could face disciplinary action up to and including separation from the university for violating policies."

Around twenty students remained occupying Paxton's office and by around 6 p.m., Providence Police officers arrived on the scene to remove and transport the students in police cruisers, per video footage by local reporters posted to X, formerly Twitter.

While being escorted out of the administration hall, students gathered outside, praying and singing.

The students were processed and arrested by university public safety officers before being transported to the Providence Police Department, the school said.