In a dramatic turn of events on Thursday night, 36 protesters were arrested at Ohio State University (OSU) as tensions escalated between law enforcement and a group of approximately 250 demonstrators. The arrests took place on the South Oval of the campus amid flashing lights from a police helicopter and a strong police presence.

At around 10:02 p.m., officers, including state troopers and OSU police, donned shields and approached the crowd, which had formed a circle around ten tents. Despite the growing arrests, the remaining protesters continued to wave flags and chant, demanding to be allowed to pray.

The first arrest occurred at approximately 10:08 p.m., followed by several more over the next few minutes. By 10:56 p.m., at least 30 arrests had been made as law enforcement officers dragged protesters one by one to waiting arrest vehicles on College Road.

With approximately 40 spectators watching from across the street, the situation intensified as more students joined the demonstration and police progressively pushed the protesters towards the south side of the lawn. Chants of "free, free Palestine" continued to echo through the air as additional arrests were carried out.

Around 11:01 p.m., officers successfully cleared the South Oval, forcing protesters to relocate to either side of 12th Avenue. A standoff ensued, with hundreds of demonstrators refusing to disperse.

The arrests came after over 350 students and community members gathered earlier in the day, forming a circle around a tent encampment. Ohio State police had warned the protesters that setting up tents on the South Oval violated university space rules and would result in potential arrest. Although initial warnings were given, no arrests were made until the evening confrontation.

In addition to prohibiting the setup of unauthorized tents, the university's space rules also restrict noise levels between Monday and Friday, limiting disruptive sounds that can be heard more than 50 feet from their source. The rules define "overnight events" as those occurring after sunset.

Protesters expressed frustration at the perceived heavy-handed tactics used by the police. Some voiced discontent with the university's handling of the situation, accusing it of not adequately protecting Palestinian students and characterizing their actions as an attempt to stifle free speech.

The event had been deemed "high risk" following previous arrests and incidents. On Tuesday, two students were arrested during a protest outside Meiling Hall, charged with criminal trespassing.

The clash between protesters and law enforcement ended with a significant number of arrests, leaving a divided campus and questions about the rights of demonstrators and the enforcement of space rules. As the incident unfolds, it remains to be seen how the university and those involved will respond to the situation.

[Additional note: This news article was updated on Friday at 2:10 p.m. to provide a confirmed number of arrests.]