Moment burly California cops detain pro-Palestine protester at USC - only to release him after students surrounded police car and refused to let officers pass

Police clashed with pro-Palestine protesters at the University of Southern California as students mobbed a cop car with a detained activist inside and refused to move.

Officials broke up a tent demonstration on the Los Angeles campus after students started their own Gaza encampment on Wednesday.

Video shows police pulled out their batons while detaining one protester wearing a neon green vest and black face mask, as others swarmed them and tried to intervene.

Pro-Palestine activists shouted 'shame on you' and 'let him go' repeatedly at the officers while they moved him to the police vehicle.

Unable to move their car, police released the detainee who then waved at demonstrators to indicate they should return to the park.

Police detained one protester wearing a neon green vest and black face mask, as others swarmed them and tried to intervene.

Pro-Palestine activists shouted 'shame on you' and 'let him go' repeatedly at the officers while they moved him to the police vehicle

Demonstrators threw objects at officers sent to disperse them, including a rock, water bottles and water, reported NBC Los Angeles.

Protesters signaled they have no intention of leaving by linking arms to create a human chain and continuing their chants.

USC sent out a notification that the Los Angeles Police Department has been brought in to assist with clearing the campus around 5:50 p.m. PT on Wednesday.

'If you are in the center of campus, please leave; LAPD will be arresting people who don't disperse,' the university said. 

USC Provost Andrew Guzman sent a campus-wide email saying protesters 'threatened the safety of our officers and campus community,' reported The Los Angeles Times.

'We have well-established policies regarding limits on the time, place, and manner of free expression. These include a prohibition on erecting tents or other encampments, use of loudspeakers, signs on poles or stakes, and the disruption of classes and other essential functions of the university,' Guzman said.

'[Protesters were] repeatedly asked by security personnel to remove their tents and other prohibited items as well as relocate to a compliant location. In each case, protesters refused. Their actions have escalated to the point of confrontation and have threatened the safety of our officers and campus community.'

Unable to move their car, police released the detainee who then waved at demonstrators to indicate they should return to the park

USC sent out a notification that the Los Angeles Police Department has been brought in to assist with clearing the campus

The protests come just over a week after the university announced its decision to ban the valedictorian from speaking at this year's graduation on May 10.

Asna Tabassum, 21, was banned for being outspoken in her pro-Palestinian support, which has led her to be labeled anti-Semitic.

The decision has been met with fury on campus - with her fellow students accusing the university of censorship and 130 faculty members signing a letter demanding to hear her speak at graduation. 

Pro-Gaza groups took to universities across the US and clashed with police and Jewish counter-protesters, with furious demonstrators spotted at University of Texas Austin, Harvard, UC Berkeley, Brown and NYU on Wednesday.

The rally at the Austin campus was organized by the university's Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSJ) chapter and quickly descended into anarchy.

The group said it was inspired by their 'comrades' at Yale and Columbia University, where in-person classes have been canceled due to the unrest sparked by 'encampments for Gaza.'

Police arrested at least four activists - who burst out in tears when they were handcuffed - after warning them they could face criminal charges if they did not disperse. 

A photographer covering the demonstration for local Fox affiliate, Fox 7 Austin, was among those arrested after being caught in a push-and-pull between law enforcement and students. 

Trying to stay ahead of protests, Harvard University locked most gates into its famous Harvard Yard ahead of classes Monday and limited access to those with school identification.

Officials broke up a tent demonstration on the Los Angeles campus after students started their own Gaza encampment

USC Safety officers try to disperse pro-Palestine protesters and take down tents

Demonstrators threw objects at officers sent to disperse them, including a rock, water bottles and water

The school also posted signs warning against setting up tents or tables on campus without permission. Those efforts didn't stop protesters from setting up a camp with 14 tents Wednesday, which came after a rally against the university's suspension of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee. 

The situation in Columbia University in New York City remained tense with campus officials saying it would continue talks with pro-Palestinian protesters for another 48 hours.

University President Minouche Shafik had set a midnight deadline to reach an agreement on clearing an encampment of protesters on campus but the school extended negotiations, saying it was making 'important progress.'

Student protesters had committed to dismantling and removing a significant number of tents, the Ivy League university said in a statement.

On Wednesday morning, the encampment appeared calm and a little smaller than the previous day.