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Pro-Palestinian protesters remain on University of Pennsylvania's campus despite warnings to disband

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Pro-Palestinian protesters remain on University of Pennsylvania's campus despite warnings to disband


PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — It’s been more than 24 hours since the University of Pennsylvania called for a group of pro-Palestinian protestors to pack up and leave campus.

The encampment includes both students and outside demonstrators. Organizers say they aren’t going anywhere.

“We have three demands and we will not be leaving until those demands are met,” explained Emma Herndon, a student organizer of the Gaza Solidarity Encampment.

On Thursday, a rally at City Hall led the group to the University of Pennsylvania campus where they set up camp.

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“Our demands are to disclose the university endowment, to divest from Israeli, and defend voices of pro-Palestine voices on campus,” explained Herndon.

On Friday, Penn’s interim president called for the group to disband.

“Failure to disband the encampment immediately and to adhere to Penn’s policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures as they apply to students, faculty, and staff,” expressed Interim President J. Larry Jameson in a letter to the community.

WATCH | Penn’s interim president warns pro-Palestinian protesters to disband encampment immediately

Penn’s interim president warns pro-Palestinian protesters to disband encampment immediately

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“As students and as members of the Philadelphia community we have rights to protest and take a space on this campus,” said Herndon.

The letter, however, mentions credible reports of harassment and intimidation, which have been documented.

It goes on to mention the encampment itself violates the university’s facilities policies and certain actions by some protestors violate Penn’s open expression guidelines as well as state and federal law.

“I support the right for people to protest always as they should have. I think it brings in a lot of outsider antagonists,” explained one Penn student to Action News.

Students want campus life to return to what it was, while university officials say maintaining a safe inclusive campus is a priority.

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“The general feeling on campus is obviously we want no violence but somehow they’re gonna have to move,” a student said.

Meanwhile, Jewish students from neighboring schools are concerned.

“If you’re going to make intense claims you have to stand behind it. I’m letting them see me. It’s making a lot of bold claims with a lot of fear goals rather than trying to spread a message of hope for something better,” said Daniel Nahamo, a Drexel student.

A ‘Say No to Hate’ rally is planned for Sunday in support of the Jewish community.

Read the full letter sent to the Penn community on Friday:

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“To the Penn community,

At Penn, we pursue our academic mission guided by fundamental commitments to upholding freedom of inquiry and open expression, while maintaining a safe, inclusive, and respectful campus community.

Over the last 24 hours, we have closely monitored the protest that evolved into an encampment on College Green. We have vigilantly supported the rights of our community members to protest peacefully. Representatives from Open Expression, University Life, and faculty leadership have engaged with some of the protestors, with limited access to the broader group.

Unfortunately, blatant violations of University policies and credible reports of harassing and intimidating conduct compel us to protect the safety and security of our campus community.

The encampment itself violates the University’s facilities policies. The harassing and intimidating comments and actions by some of the protesters, which were reported and documented by many in our community, violate Penn’s open expression guidelines and state and federal law, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act. All members of our community deserve to access our facilities without fear of harassment or being subjected to discriminatory comments or threats.

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The vandalism of the statue in front of College Hall with antisemitic graffiti was especially reprehensible and will be investigated as a hate crime.

As we have repeatedly emphasized, we will uphold free speech and the productive exchange of ideas, but we will not allow any actions that harass, threaten, or intimidate others. We have also said that the safety of our community is paramount, and we will live up to our commitment.

I am deeply saddened and troubled that our many efforts to respectfully engage in discourse, support open expression, and create a community that is free of hate and inclusive for everyone have been ignored by those who choose to disrupt and intimidate.

We have notified the protestors of their legal and policy violations. Failure to disband the encampment immediately and to adhere to Penn’s policies will result in sanctions consistent with our due process procedures as they apply to students, faculty, and staff.”

Copyright © 2024 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Pennsylvania

Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police

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Man cited after abandoning car in frozen pond at Pennsylvania country club: Police


A man has been cited after police said he drove a vehicle into a frozen pond at a country club in Pennsylvania, left the scene, then spent the night in a hotel.

According to the East Lampeter Township Police Department, on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026, around 10:38 a.m., officers were called to the Lancaster Country Club after receiving reports about a vehicle in a pond.

Police said that, through an investigation, it was learned that Sung Chun, a 50-year-old man from Hoboken, New Jersey, had driven onto the property the day before around 8:30 p.m., crossed portions of the golf course, and ultimately ended up in a pond.

Chun then exited the vehicle and walked away without reporting the incident and spent the night at a nearby hotel, according to police.

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Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Credit: East Lampeter Township Police Department

Police said Chun returned to the location while police were on scene investigating the incident and was ultimately cited with “Trespass by Motor Vehicle.”



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Pennsylvania

State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

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State College, Pennsylvania: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards


In rural Pennsylvania, State College houses Penn State against a backdrop of beautiful country scenery. The university hosts many events, arts performances, and lively festivals that give the town year-round excitement that blends student life with local charm. Visitors can attend a football game, explore nearby parks and trails, and savor the town’s growing culinary scene of pubs and local eateries.



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Pennsylvania

What the war with Iran could mean for gas prices in western Pennsylvania

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What the war with Iran could mean for gas prices in western Pennsylvania


The war with Iran could start impacting your wallet as soon as today.

Jim Garrity from AAA East Central says oil prices are up.

“They’re hovering around $72. They were pretty consistently around $65, $66 for a while,” he said.

Nationally, AAA said the average for a gallon of regular sits at about $3, up approximately six cents from last week.

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In Pennsylvania, it’s around $3.12 a gallon, and in the Pittsburgh region, it’s around $3.24 a gallon. That’s actually down about four cents from last week.

Garrity added that gas prices this time of year would already be increasing, usually because of higher demand for the warmer months and the production of the summer blend of gas used for those months.

The impacts of what’s happening in Iran may not be immediate, which could be part of why our region and the state overall have not seen a spike yet, he said.

“It could be a couple of days later. It could be up to a week later,” Garrity said.

A lot of people are watching what happens with the Strait of Hormuz. Iran borders it to the north, and 20% of the world’s oil goes through it.

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Iran is one of the world’s biggest oil producers, and China gets a lot of that oil.

“If there is an impact there, you could see oil start to come in from other parts of the world, which has a downstream effect on [the United States],” Garrity said.

One way you can save on gas if prices increase in our area is by slowing down.

“When you drive faster every five miles, over 50 miles an hour, your fuel efficiency is going down,” Garrity said. “You’re making the car work harder, making the gasoline consumption less effective.”

Garrity added that in 2022, when our area and many others saw some of the highest gas prices ever recorded, people changed their driving habits.

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“We saw people make seemingly permanent changes to their driving behaviors, driving less in general, consolidating trips,” he said.



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