BOISE, Idaho — Tension rose as Idaho State Police and Boise Police officers removed a pro-Palestinian encampment placed on the state Capitol steps Wednesday night.
A video posted to social media by one of the organizers of the pro-Palestinian protest group shows law enforcement trying to keep protestors off the street, and a Boise police officer shoves a couple of protestors onto the sidewalk and one being shoved to the ground.
Idaho State Police told KTVB on Wednesday the protesters moved from their encampment on the lawn of the old Ada County Courthouse to the steps of the Idaho Capitol Building. There, they set up tents, canopies, and other personal belongings.
Around 8 p.m., a mix of ISP and BPD officers told the group to clear out from the steps, saying they were in violation of Idaho Code. The code prevents anyone from blocking the entrance of public and state facilities.
ISP told KTVB protestors were given "ample" time to pack up and leave but didn't. Troopers then moved in and started impounding people's belongings. They say there will be a process for protestors to get their property back.
The department states the protestors moved across the street and later went back to the encampment at the Old Ada County Courthouse.
ISP said nobody was taken to the hospital or arrested.
BPD released a statement regarding what happened Wednesday:
Boise Police officers were called to assist in keeping a safe work area for ISP as they cleared the Capitol steps of obstructions. Several individuals entered the street near ISP’s work area and disregarded officers’ direction to return to the sidewalk, which led to a physical interaction with an officer. All officers were wearing on body video and the incident was documented according to BPD policy and procedure. We remind viewers of this video that this is a small part of the interaction and there are strict reviews and policies around any complaint of use of force. All demonstrators involved had been given multiple warnings and opportunities to claim the items previously confiscated by ISP. BPD will conduct a thorough review of the incident.
Governor Brad Little issued a statement on Thursday afternoon:
"My administration is committed to enforcing the law and protecting our Capitol and public from the dangers of illegal encampments. Idaho is not Portland, LA, San Francisco, or Seattle where public officials tolerate unsafe and destructive public camping. Idaho cherishes and protects our First Amendment rights to speech, popular and unpopular alike, but I will not tolerate any group's efforts to establish encampments that damage state property, create health and safety risks, and interfere with other forms of public access. I am grateful for the prompt and consistent efforts of the Idaho State Police and Department of Administration," Governor Little said.
The encampment at the Old Ada County Courthouse was placed after a rally held on May 3, after protestors gathered at the Anne Frank Memorial and walked to the capitol.
Around thirty people camped overnight. In the early morning of May 4, police swept through the encampment and removed tents. Idaho State Police (ISP) Public Information Officer Aaron Snell said protesters are welcome in public spaces but must follow the camping rules.
On May 5, Casey Parsons, an attorney representing the group, told KTVB the encampment is allowed to stand as long as it "is being used for assembly purposes."
The protestors are not allowed to camp or sleep in the tents, so they have been working in shifts through the night.
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