DENVER (KDVR) — Police officers detained pro-Palestine demonstrators who were encamped at the Tivoli Quad on the Auraria Campus on Friday after telling the demonstrators they needed to disperse.

The demonstrators gathered to protest the United States’ support of Israel in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and also demanded that the university divest from Israeli companies, refuse to accept grants from corporations that contract with U.S. Armed Forces and terminate the university’s study abroad programs to Israel, along with a few other demands.

On Friday in Denver, demonstrators reported that Denver police officers used a megaphone to tell a group of demonstrators who had set up tents and remained at the site overnight that if they remained at the camp, they would be considered trespassing and would be arrested and prosecuted. In response, demonstrators locked arms in a makeshift, human barricade around their tents.

SkyFOX was over the scene at about 1:10 p.m. where some protestors were being detained.

In a message posted to social platform X, the Auraria Campus administration told students that there are “several large events” on campus Friday, including the Tivoli Quad demonstration. The Auraria campus is adjacent to and shares parking with Ball Arena, where the Colorado Avalanche will host game three of their playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets at 8 p.m.

“Please be assured that campus leadership is actively addressing the situation,” the school wrote.

The school also issued a statement about the demonstration on Friday afternoon.

“Numerous discussions have taken place with the students before yesterday’s demonstration, including a session Thursday night involving Dr. Angie Paccione, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Higher Education and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. These engagements have been aimed at attentively hearing and comprehending the students’ perspectives. The Auraria Campus and the three higher education institutions continue to be committed to listening to and collaborating with the students and protecting their right to free speech,” the education center said in part.

The campus went on to say there are people falsely presenting themselves as a higher education institution representative, including those attempting to present themselves as representatives of the Auraria Campus. Auraria is home to the University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver and Community College of Denver. All faculty and staff have official campus badges, the campus stated.

“We fully support the right of students to assemble peacefully,” the university statement continued. “Still, it’s essential to note that Auraria Campus policy prohibits camping on the premises because of health, safety, and security considerations. Participants set up an encampment and were repeatedly notified that they did not comply with the policy.”

In another message posted at about 12:30 p.m., school administrators told students that “due to civil unrest, please avoid the Tivoli Quad.” At about 12:52 p.m., the account reported that all inbound traffic to the campus was closed.

The Denver protest is one of many that have sprung up around the nation, including one of the most prominent at Columbia University where professors joined the students. Many of the protests have resulted in arrests of students, citizens and staff.

A FOX31 crew is headed to the scene to gather further details.