The wave of student protests that swept the US and led to violent clashes between protesters and police resulted in the arrest of more than 2,000 people since April 18.

Police intervened and forcibly removed thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters at several colleges on Thursday.

Scenes of chaos and violence unfolded during the operation to break up the encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles when police in helmets swarmed the forecourt where the students had set up tents.

Los Angeles police said on social media that 210 people were arrested at UCLA and hundreds of arrests were made at other universities overnight and Thursday.

Students have set up tents at dozens of universities in recent days to protest Israel’s war on Gaza. Protesters called on President Joe Biden, who has supported Israel’s right to defend itself, to do more to stop the bloodshed in Gaza and demanded the divestment of companies that support the Israeli government.

Many of the provost authorities, including Columbia University in New York, called in the police to break up the protests.

US President Joe Biden spoke on Thursday after the raid at UCLA, saying Americans have the right to protest but not with the use of violence.

“Destruction of property is not a peaceful protest,” he said. “It’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking mosques, closing campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations – none of this is a peaceful protest.”

At UCLA, police repeatedly urged protesters to leave the site, a central plaza the size of a football field.

Dozens of loud explosions rang out from stun grenades fired by police as protesters, some with makeshift shields and umbrellas, chanted “push them back”.

Live television footage showed police taking down tents and tearing down makeshift barricades.

Portland police officers in riot gear clashed with protesters Thursday outside Portland State University’s library as authorities tried to clear pro-Palestinian protesters from the premises.