RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Police are working to break up a pro-Palestinian protest advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza in Richmond Monday night, making multiple arrests and deploying chemical agents on protesters as they tore down their encampment.

The protest outside of the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) James Cabell Library began earlier in the day on Monday, April 29, following several other similar protests across the nation.

Individuals gathered on VCU’s Monroe Park campus carrying signs saying “Free Palestine” and “Ceasefire Now,” among others.

8News team members on the ground witnessed VCU Police in riot gear create a police line around 8:30 p.m., exiting from a bus that had been staged near the protest’s encampment.

Soon after, a VCU alert was sent out calling the protest “violent” and an unlawful assembly was declared. Police then moved in on the protesters, working to break apart their line. Some of them were seen wearing gas masks.

8News team members on the ground said they saw hundreds of officers moving in, taking down the barricade by force. Virginia State Police were seen among them, as well as officers with the Richmond Police Department.

(Video: Cameron Howle, provided to 8News by ABC)

In videos taken by 8News team members, officers can be seen forcing protesters to the ground and binding their hands with zip ties.

According to our team members, some protesters were seen tossing water bottles at officers.

As state police continued to move in, officers began pushing the protesters back against Cabell Library. Video captured by 8News shows people inside banging on the windows of Cabell Library as people outside are forced back against the walls.

Our team members witnessed pepper spray being used on protesters.

By 9:15 p.m., the entire lawn was surrounded and state police were tearing down tents.

By 9:30 p.m., police were deploying tear gas, which hit many protesters and news crews, including our 8News team members.

(Video: Khyla Turner, provided to 8News by ABC)

The protest slowly began to disperse over the next few hours. At this time, it is not known exactly how many people were arrested.

In the early evening, protesters put up tents and established what they called their “Liberation Zone.” They called for VCU to divest all ties with Israel and, according to the protest’s student leader, advocated for the “liberation of Palestine.”

Prior to the arrival of police, protesters put on masks and created their own line surrounding the encampment. This involved using palettes and other large objects to create a barricade.

Reactions from the university, local officials

As VCU is a state school, its property is considered public. According to Richmond’s City Code, people cannot “camp, lay or sleep on, near or about any public lands or structures belonging to or under control of the city after 11 p.m.” unless they receive special permission.

The university provided 8News with a statement at about 9:17 p.m. regarding the protests.

“Final exams begin this week and VCU must provide students the opportunity to safely and successfully complete the semester. The gathering violated several university policies. 

VCU respectfully and repeatedly provided opportunities for those individuals involved – many of whom were not students — to collect their belongings and leave. Those who did not leave were subject to arrest for trespassing.

While supporting an environment that fosters protected speech and expressive activity, VCU must maintain an atmosphere free of disruption to the university’s mission.”

Brian McNeill, spokesperson for Virginia Commonwealth University

The VCU branch of the United Campus Workers of Virginia union (UCWVA-VCU), representing VCU faculty and staff, released a lengthy statement largely condemning the use of police intervention Monday evening.

“There can be no justification for such an unmitigated display of brutality against students exercising their rights to free speech on their own campus,” the statement reads. “The encampment built by VCU students today was an act of love, bravery, and solidarity. They spoke out for the humanity of others, only to see their school rob them of their own.”

The union went on to say that they believe the use of riot gear, tear gas, pepper spray and other weapons on students is unjustifiable.

“Without students, there can be no university,” the statement reads. “VCU students acted tonight in concert with students across the country who are standing up against the genocide unfolding before our eyes in Gaza.”

You can read the statement in its entirety here.

In a joint press release sent out before police moved in on protesters, multiple Democratic lawmakers — including Del. Rozia Henson (D-Prince William), Del. Joshua Cole (D-Fredericksburg), Del. Adele McClure (D-Arlington), Del. Nadarius Clark (D-Suffolk) and Sen. Saddam Salim (D-Fairfax) — said police intervention in student protests concerned them.

“Freedom of speech and the right to protest are rights protected by the United States Constitution. Full stop,” Henson said. “Arresting students for exercising their constitutionally protected rights to peacefully assemble and protest violence erodes confidence in our own governmental institutions and must be closely scrutinized.”

Following the police beginning its intervention, Salim reiterated these thoughts on X, formerly known as Twitter, calling this action “unacceptable.”

Katherine Jordan, the City Councilwoman for the district the Cabell Library is located in, shared her feelings about what happened Monday night on X.

“Very disturbed by what has unfolded tonight, and on campuses across the country,” Jordan wrote. “I’m not ok with this.”

Both the Richmond Police Department and VCU Police have not responded to 8News’ inquiries regarding the monitoring of the protests as of the time of reporting.

No other information is available at this time. 8News team members remain at the scene and will provide updates when possible.

This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.