Editor’s note: This story will be updated.

AMHERST — More than 130 people were arrested on the University of Massachusetts campus Tuesday night after those who set up a pro-Palestinian encampment on the South Lawn of the Student Union refused to dismantle tents and other parts of the site, and didn’t comply with dispersal orders from police, according to UMass spokesman Ed Blaguszewski.

As of 9 a.m. Wednesday, UMass Police reported that 109 people had been booked on various charges and criminal charges were pending for another 25 or so people.

The number of arrests is more than double the 57 protesters who were taken into custody at Whitmore Administration Building last fall after refusing to leave the building when it closed.

The arrests came after a message from Chancellor Javier Reyes that there were many paths to resolve the encampment without arrests. Those paths had included discussions between Reyes and representatives of the protest, and a message delivered by the UMass Demonstration Response and Safety Team.

Stephen Karam, chairman of the UMass board of trustees, issued a statement offering his board’s “full and unwavering support for Chancellor Javier Reyes.”

“We have absolute confidence in his leadership, his integrity, and his commitment to our students,” Karam said.

An earlier message from Reyes stated: “Demonstrators rejected our offers for continued civil discourse to help bridge our differences and refused to dismantle their encampment. While we have told demonstrators that failure to remove the tents and barriers may result in arrests, this is not the outcome we had hoped for.”

“Let me be clear — involving law enforcement is the absolute last resort.”

During his conversation with representatives of the protest, a series of demands were discussed, ranging from financial divestment to the status of students’ civil court cases following the October 2023 Whitmore arrests. Reyes informed them that all infractions have been reduced to civil penalties and clarification would be sought on the status of those civil proceedings.

One of those arrested was Nate Foster, a UMass senior, who said he was among the last 45 arrested a bit after midnight, and was then transported by PVTA bus to the Mullins Center. There, he and the others were placed in the middle of the rink and had their hands tied behind their backs with flex cuffs. Foster said the state police trooper who arrested him told him and others they were being arrested on trespassing, resisting arrest and refusal to disperse charges.

“This was one of the most ridiculous experiences I’ve ever had in my life,” Foster said.

Foster argues that the situation was entirely avoidable and contends that Reyes intentionally wanted state troopers to use a show of force, as five minutes after the discussion with student representatives, in which Reyes refused to meet the divestment demands, police moved in.

“The area was fully militarized for the purpose of brutalizing our students,” Foster said.”Our campus was made unsafe by our chancellor.”

Once at the arena, the arrested were squished together and not provided water and had limited access to bathrooms, Foster said, and couldn’t stand up or lie down. They were brought to the UMass Police early Wednesday morning to be processed, bailed and had arraignment dates in Eastern Hamsphrie District Court in Belchertown set.

Another arrested was Hampshire College student Henry Morgan, who was at the encampment to write an independent news article, and was wearing a homemade press badge.

“Trying to cover the way police respond to a peaceful protest, I got way more experience of being repressed,” Morgan said, noting that the state police officer who arrested him said the charge was disorderly conduct. Like Foster, he was then brought to the Mullins Center via a PVTA bus, and held in flex cuffs alongside others arrested.

Even though it was not a pleasant experience, Morgan said he made the most of it by singing songs with others who spent the night in the arena. “I enjoyed being together and the camaraderie, even while being repressed,” Morgan said.

Morgan also noted his appreciation for state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, whom he spoke to recently about the campus protests, and that her advocacy has included that there be no force used by police, including pepper spray.

Videos of those being arrested, which included some faculty members and community members, were posted to the Student for Justice in Palestine Instagram page, where the group promoted a Rally for Rafah set for 3 p.m. Wednesday outside the Student Union, and also created an online sheet to sign stating they have no confidence in Reyes’ leadership.

Carol Rose, executive director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, issued a statement expressing concern for the arrests and use of armed police officers on the UMass campus.

“While other campuses across the country have engaged demonstrators in productive dialogue, we are highly concerned that University of Massachusetts Amherst leaders chose to invite armed police into a campus protest environment,” Rose said. “Reports that police may have attempted to shield their activity from press and legal observers raise additional concerns about press freedom and transparency, which are essential to accountability.

“Last night in Amherst, and events on campuses across the country, make clear: When universities choose to involve police in nonviolent demonstrations, it escalates tensions and creates unacceptable safety risks for all students, faculty, and community members. Campus administrators have an obligation to protect students’ safety on campus; at the same time, they must take all necessary measures to protect students’ right to protest. Calling heavily armed police on student political expression is an inherently dangerous choice.

“With protests ongoing, including at Harvard and MIT, the ACLU continues to urge campus officials and police to show restraint and engage in dialogue and other nonviolent approaches — not force.”