KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Nine protesters were arrested on the University of Tennessee (UT) campus in Knoxville Thursday night.

School officials told News 2’s sister station, WATE, the protesters were in a crowd that was gathered on the law school lawn in violation of the university’s events policy, and they were trespassing. UT added the crowd was handed an ultimatum – leave before 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 2 or be subject to suspension or arrest. 

In a statement, UT said, “We do not take this situation lightly and worked throughout the day to give people information with which to make informed decisions.” 

The university told WATE two of the people who were taken into custody were not affiliated with UT, adding that students who were arrested will be referred to student conduct. At last update, they were expected to be released Thursday evening. 

University Chancellor Donde Plowman released an update “on our campus community” on Friday, May 3 following Thursday night’s events.

Plowman stated, in part, “We recognize and protect members of the campus community’s right to free speech. We apply laws and policies to everyone equally and without prejudice to preserve the use and enjoyment of university property and protect the safety of members of our community. A group of individuals does not have the right to monopolize university property for an indefinite period of time.”

Plowman’s note also shared a brief timeline of what happened on campus.

We have been working for days to engage some of our students, beginning with a registered student organization that held a planned civil event on campus on Wednesday followed by a productive meeting with administrators yesterday.

Following the vigil, an unplanned assembly gathered and made its way to the lawn of the College of Law, where final exams are underway. Several university leaders worked all afternoon Wednesday to communicate permissible and impermissible activities to the assembled group and their leaders.

Thursday’s arrests came less than a day after a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters who had been gathered outside of UT’s law school was dispersed. The demonstrators who gathered on campus Wednesday, May 1 left the area early the next morning.

Plowman’s statement concluded that UT leaders would continue to enforce the law and university policy: “This was not the result any of us wanted. We will continue to engage with all our students to provide support, and we will also continue to enforce the law and university policy for the benefit and protection of everyone in our community. We ask that all Volunteers express themselves in ways that respect the rights of others.”

News 2’s sister station learned that UT leaders utilized a Tennessee no camping law to tell this group to move after some demonstrators laid down blankets and threatened to stay all night. However, the university stressed there was not a “zero to 60” escalation – citing how long and drawn out UT’s tiered response to the situation was. 

UT said school officials showed up at the scene around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday and threatened law enforcement action. WATE was told police showed up at approximately 12:25 a.m. Thursday and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office was on standby after the university requested transportation assistance. In the end, though, UT said the protesters left on their own accord, adding that no arrests were made overnight Wednesday into Thursday.  

In a separate statement, UT said, “The university values freedom of speech and expression and is committed to the safety of all members of our campus community. Everyone on campus is expected to follow applicable laws and university policy for freedom of assembly and demonstration.” 

A fence that wraps around the law school lawn was set up Thursday night. UT has also set out a sign listing different support resources.