Police drag anti-war protesters out of an encampment at UVa on Saturday.

Jason Armesto of The Daily Progress reports that University of Virginia President Jim Ryan defended his decision to call in state troopers against campus protesters Saturday, saying that while the episode was "upsetting, frightening and sad," that campus leaders had "no other choice" after demonstrators refused to comply with campus rules.

Armesto previously reported that days of peaceful protest at UVa came to a chaotic and violent end on Saturday as Virginia State Police in tactical gear and with riot shields broke up an encampment and arrested more than a dozen protesters.

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State Sen. Creigh Deeds , D-Charlottesville and Del. Katrina Callsen , D-Albemarle, criticized the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.

In recent days authorities also have broken up pro-Palestinian encampments and made arrests at Virginia Tech, the University of Mary Washington and Virginia Commonwealth University.

At UVA, Armesto reported: "What had started as a quiet and rain-drenched protest of around 15 on Saturday morning was a vocal and angry crowd of nearly 100 on Saturday evening."

Armesto reported that the arrival of the state police appears to have been in response to the protesters’ decision to pitch tents on UVa Grounds on Friday evening ahead of rain. School officials said the administration must approve tents before they go up on school grounds.

As he began a weeklong trade mission last Sunday, Gov. Glenn Youngkin told CNN from Germany that Virginia will protect peaceful gatherings on campus, but not instances of intimidation and hate speech.

Youngkin added: “We’re not going to have encampments and tents put up.”

WHAT'S NEXT?

VCU commencement: Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks at the Virginia Commonwealth University commencement Saturday, less than two weeks after police clashed with pro-Palestinian demonstrators at VCU and broke up an encampment.

Special session : Lawmakers return to Richmond May 13 to seek a budget deal.

State Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland, is challenging Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, in a Republican primary.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT

IN OTHER NEWS

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Demonstrators and law enforcement officers clash during a pro-Palestinian rally at Virginia Commonwealth University, Monday, April 29, 2024.

MONDAY TRIVIA

Who was the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Major League Baseball game?

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

TRIVIA ANSWER

President Benjamin Harrison watched the Cincinnati Reds beat the Washington Senators, 7-4, on June 6, 1892.