Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign on Thursday abruptly barred the press from her meeting with students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, as pro-Palestinian protesters marched on the campus amid the news that Hamas’ leader was killed by the Israeli military.
Ms. Harris was said to be working on a statement about the developments in the Middle East.
The Democratic nominee was scheduled to briefly take questions from the press ahead of what the campaign billed as a “meet and greet’ with the UWM students.
However, reporters traveling with Ms. Harris in Wisconsin said that the talk with the press was canceled moments before it was scheduled to happen. Earlier Thursday, the Israeli military said its forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.
Pro-Palestinian protesters, however, stormed the event, chanting and carrying flags near the Lunar Entrepreneurship Center on the campus.
The protesters were chanting “Free Palestine,” and “Shame!” with bullhorns. Several protesters were screaming that UWM has “blood on its hands” for inviting Ms. Harris to campus.
Some protesters carried signs with slogans ranging from “VP Harris we charge you with genocide!” “Bombing kids is not self-defense,” and “Killer Kamala.”
Police have surrounded the protesters but no arrests had been made as of early Thursday afternoon, according to The Milwaukee-Journal Sentinel.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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