Campus Protests Amplify Over Gaza Amidst University, Police Resistance
TL/DR –
Pro-Palestinian protests spread across US university campuses, with some students clashing with police and dozens being arrested. The demonstrations also reached international institutions in Cairo, Paris, and Sydney. Students are expressing solidarity with their peers at Columbia University and demanding their universities divest from companies tied to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, disclose their investment portfolios, and recognize their right to protest without punishment.
Pro-Palestinian Protests Intensify Across US Universities
Pro-Palestinian protests heightened on Wednesday, with students across the US showing support for their counterparts at Columbia University and the pro-Palestinian movement. Several universities from Texas to California worked to prevent encampments, deploying police and resulting in multiple arrests.
Demands from protestors included university divestment from companies linked to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, transparency about these investments, and the right to protest without punishment. Similar demonstrations also occurred on campuses in Cairo, Paris, and Sydney.
As protests grew, House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia campus, calling for the resignation of its president, Nemat Shafik, and suggesting the possible deployment of the National Guard if the situation remained uncontrolled.
Republican lawmakers have long criticized universities for inadequate protection of Jewish students, an issue dividing Democrats. Some campus demonstrations have included hate speech and support for Hamas, the group responsible for deadly attacks on Israel.
Texas Demonstrations Escalate
In Texas, law enforcement officers, many in riot gear, confronted protesters at the University of Texas at Austin, leading to 34 arrests. Governor Greg Abbott declared these protesters should face jail time. The University of Texas in Dallas saw a sit-in near the university president’s office, demanding divestments.
West Coast Protests
The University of Southern California witnessed police breaking up a pro-Palestinian protest consisting of around 100 students. Demonstrations also arose due to the cancellation of a valedictorian’s commencement address over her support for Palestinians on social media.
Continued Protests and Arrests
Despite police intervention, protests resumed later, with officers arresting between 25 and 30 demonstrators. Brown University in Rhode Island saw students setting up tents on campus in support of Gazan students and children, and Harvard University students erected tents in opposition to the suspension of a pro-Palestinian campus group.
At Cal Poly Humboldt, California, the campus was shut down over concerns of spreading protests. Ohio State University saw two student arrests. The University of Texas at Austin protests were among the first in a Republican-led state. Governor Abbott had previously promised to combat antisemitism on campus.
Ahead of the protests, university officials revoked permission for the demonstration and warned potential participants. The state police, deployed at Abbott’s direction, swiftly responded when protesters began to assemble.
Several protesters were arrested, with most charged with criminal trespassing. The university stated that disruptions akin to those at other campuses would not be tolerated and action would be taken to allow students to finish their classes and exams without interruption.
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