University of Pennsylvania authorities reported that six Penn students were among 19 individuals arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest at Fisher-Bennett Hall on Friday, May 17, 2024. The protesters, part of the group Penn Students Against the Occupation of Palestine, attempted to occupy the building, calling for supporters to join with noise-making items. Penn’s Division of Public Safety detailed that the university and city police intervened shortly after the occupation began, recovering lock-picking tools and makeshift metal shields from the scene. Seven students faced felony charges, while twelve others were cited and released.

This incident followed a previous arrest of 33 protesters, including nine students, during the dismantling of a protest encampment on campus. Such protests are part of a broader movement across U.S. college campuses advocating for divestment from Israeli businesses due to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which began with an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023.