Pro-Palestinian protests at various universities across America have gained momentum in recent weeks, with tent cities and demonstrations calling for divestment from Israel. While many demonstrations have been peaceful, tensions have escalated with hundreds of arrests and clashes between police and protesters. Commencements have been canceled, classes moved online, and campuses restricted as college leaders seek to control the situation. Protesters have occupied buildings, resulting in police intervention to remove them and make arrests.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that approximately 300 people were arrested at Columbia University and City College of New York overnight, with police working to determine how many were students. Adams attributed the escalation to outside agitators who turned the protests into something more sinister, marked by anti-Semitic and anti-Israel attitudes. At Tulane University, six people were arrested and seven students suspended for participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations that included trespassing and hate speech. The unrest has led to multiple building closures on the Tulane campus, with classes moving online.
At the University of Arizona, police used chemical irritants to disperse crowds of protesters from the campus, declaring it an unlawful assembly. Meanwhile, Brown University reached an agreement with protesters to hold a divestment vote regarding companies associated with Israel or the conflict in Gaza. The vote is scheduled for October after a meeting with the Corporation of Brown University in May. Riot police in Madison, Wisconsin, faced off against protesters at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, leading to chaotic scenes and clashes with demonstrators.
The escalating tensions between pro-Palestinian and counter-protest groups at UCLA led to violent clashes, with fireworks exploding and physical altercations breaking out between individuals. The clashes centered around a tent encampment built by pro-Palestinian protesters, which drew ire from counter-protesters who tried to dismantle the barricades. At Columbia University in Manhattan, NYPD officers in riot gear cleared protesters from Hamilton Hall, where they had barricaded themselves inside an administration building. Dozens were arrested as police entered and cleared the building.
The protests at various universities continue amid ongoing unrest, with campuses like City College of New York experiencing confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. In response to the protests, class cancellations and shifts to online learning have been implemented, as well as tighter security measures on campuses. The demonstrations have attracted attention and support from various groups, leading to an increase in tensions and conflicts between different sides. The calls for divestment and support for Palestine have sparked a broader discussion on campuses and raised concerns about the future of these movements.
