In a dramatic turn of events, a pro-Palestine protest at the University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin) resulted in 57 arrests, including one journalist, on Wednesday. The fallout from the police crackdown continued on Thursday, as faculty at the university condemned the response, university leaders defended their actions, and students planned a second round of protests.

The arrests, made on the school's campus by the Travis County Sheriff's Office, have drawn criticism from faculty and students who argue that the response was heavy-handed. According to the Travis County attorney's office, most of the criminal charges against the protesters, 46 in total, were dropped.

The protest started peacefully, with no signs of violence, but after the student walkout began, university officials and police ordered the protesters to disperse. The authorities then began making arrests on criminal trespassing charges. Protesters regrouped on the university's South Mall, where they were soon surrounded by law enforcement, including Texas Department of Public Safety officers, who formed a perimeter behind a chain-link barrier and pushed the demonstrators onto the sidewalks. The use of mounted state troopers and officers on foot with body shields further escalated tensions.

The videos capturing the protest and subsequent arrests quickly went viral on social media, exposing a divide in opinions. While some Republican leaders cheered the police response and labeled the demonstrators as "pro-Hamas" or part of an "unlawful assembly," many criticized the use of force, including the incident where a local TV cameraman was slammed to the ground by police.

UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell defended the university's response, stating that they "held firm" and accused the protesters of attempting to occupy the campus. However, Hartzell's explanation was met with widespread criticism from faculty and students who believe that the police response was disproportionate.

In response to Wednesday's events, the Faculty Council Executive Committee released a strongly-worded statement expressing grave concern and accusing Hartzell of inviting state troopers onto campus. The faculty group called for more restraint in handling campus protests and demanded clarity on the line between protests that should be addressed by local law enforcement versus those requiring armed state troopers.

The Texas chapter of the American Association of University Professors also condemned the university's response and called for the cancellation of regular school activities. Some students reported that their professors had already declared Thursday's classes as optional.

Amid the ongoing controversy, the Palestine Solidarity Committee, which organized the initial protest, announced plans to continue demonstrating at UT-Austin. They are urging the university to divest from companies that allegedly profiting from the conflict in Gaza.

Meanwhile, prominent Republican leaders support a crackdown on both the demonstrators and faculty who are supporting them. This has further intensified the political debate surrounding the incident.

As the fallout from the protest continues, the UT-Austin campus remains tense, with faculty and students calling for accountability, restraint, and a reevaluation of the university's response. The traumatic events at UT-Austin have sparked a renewed dialogue surrounding the right to protest and the use of force on college campuses.