A pro-Palestine uprising has seen many students at US universities, with the atmosphere “electric” and the authorities trying to contain the protests.
Hundreds of arrests, bans, expulsions and riot police confronting angry students are the “puzzle” of recent months at US universities, with many students calling for an end to Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
From Los Angeles to New York, from Austin to Boston, Chicago and Atlanta, the pro-Palestinian American student movement is growing by the hour. Some of the most prestigious universities in the world are affected by the protests, such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia or Princeton.
The scene across the country is being repeated: students set up tents at their universities to denounce US military support for Israel and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.
They are then removed, often violently, by riot police at the request of university administrations.
On the evening of Wednesday, April 24, more than 100 protesters were arrested near Emerson University in Boston. Thousands of miles away, mounted police arrested students at the University of Texas at Austin.
And this morning, it was the turn of Emory University students in Atlanta, in the southern US, to be forcibly removed by the police.
However, the movement is growing. Earlier today, a new camp was set up on the campus of George Washington University in the US capital, where a demonstration will be held later.
Videos posted on social media show a bronze statue of the first US president, after whom the university and city are named, with a Palestinian flag on its forehead. At the base of the statue, more than ten tents set up by protesters can be seen.
Columbia University Authority
“Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza sleep in the cold every night without access to food or a shelter,” explained Yazen, an American-Palestinian student in New York, to justify his involvement in this movement.
For more than a week, the 23-year-old student has been sleeping outside Columbia University every night.
It was from this university that the protest movement started, about a week ago, before it spread across the country, thanks mainly to the mobilization of students on social media.
On Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia University, where he threatened to ask Joe Biden to mobilize the National Guard on campuses, which he said were at the mercy of a “virus of anti-Semitism.”
A segment of American society accuses universities of anti-Zionism, accusations that cost the chancellors of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania their jobs this winter.
Mike Johnson’s warning, however, evokes painful memories in the US: on May 4, 1970, the Ohio National Guard opened fire at Kent State University on anti-Vietnam War protesters. Four students were killed.
The White House has so far avoided mentioning that scenario, simply assuring that the Democratic president, who is hoping for re-election in November, “supports free speech, public debate and non-discrimination” at universities.
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#Effervescence #Universities #proPalestine #demonstrations
US universities protests
Table of Contents
Pro-Palestine Uprising Sweeps Across US Universities
A wave of protests has swept across US universities, with students from coast to coast demanding an end to Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The protests, which have been met with force by authorities, have led to hundreds of arrests, bans, and expulsions.
The movement, which began at Columbia University about a week ago, has spread to over 100 college campuses nationwide, including some of the most prestigious universities in the world, such as Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and the University of Texas at Austin [[2]].
Protesters have set up tents on their university campuses to denounce US military support for Israel and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. However, they have been removed, often violently, by riot police at the request of university administrations.
The students, many of whom are American-Palestinians, have been vocal about their reasons for protesting. Yazen, a 23-year-old student at Columbia University, explained, “Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza sleep in the cold every night without access to food or a shelter.” He has been sleeping outside the university every night for over a week as part of the protest movement.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia University, where he threatened to ask President Joe Biden to mobilize the National Guard on campuses, which he claimed were at the mercy of a “virus of anti-Semitism” [[1]]. However, Johnson’s warning has sparked concerns about the potential use of force against protesters, evoking painful memories of the 1970 Kent State University shootings, in which four students were killed by the Ohio National Guard during anti-Vietnam War protests.
Despite the backlash, the movement continues to grow, with new protests and demonstrations emerging across the country. Human Rights Watch has called on US universities to respect peaceful protests for Palestinians, emphasizing the importance of protecting students’ right to freedom of expression [[3]].
The White House has so far avoided commenting on the situation, but the protests are expected to continue until the demands of the students are met. As the movement gains momentum, it remains to be seen how authorities will respond to the growing tide of pro-Palestine activism on US university campuses.
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<a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-is-behind-pro-palestinian-protests-us-univers
Pro-Palestine Uprising Spreads Across US Universities: A Growing Movement
In recent months, US universities have witnessed a surge in pro-Palestinian protests, with students from coast to coast demanding an end to Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The protests have been met with resistance from authorities, resulting in hundreds of arrests, bans, and expulsions. Despite the challenges, the movement is showing no signs of slowing down, with students from some of the most prestigious universities in the world, such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton, taking part.
Columbia University: The Epicenter of the Movement
The student protests began in earnest at New York’s Columbia University on April 17, when students pitched tents in the middle of the campus [[1]]. Since then, the movement has spread across the country, with students from Los Angeles to New York, from Austin to Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta, joining the cause. The protests have been marked by arrests, bans, and riot police confronting angry students, but the students are determined to make their voices heard.
The Pro-Palestinian Student Movement: A Growing Force
The pro-Palestinian student movement is alive and well, with students from across the country coming together to demand an end to Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. The movement has spread out across many fronts over the summer break, but is getting ready to come back on campus with renewed energy [[2]]. Despite the challenges, the students remain committed to their cause, with many calling for an end to US military support for Israel and improved humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
The Authorities’ Response: Containment and Suppression
The authorities have responded to the protests with force, with riot police arresting students and removing them from campuses. On the evening of April 24, more than 100 protesters were arrested near Emerson University in Boston. Thousands of miles away, mounted police arrested students at the University of Texas at Austin. And in Atlanta, Emory University students were forcibly removed by police.
The Protests Intensify
Despite the authorities’ efforts to contain the protests, the movement is growing. Earlier today, a new camp was set up on the campus of George Washington University in the US capital, where a demonstration will be held later. Videos posted on social media show a bronze statue of the first US president, after whom the university and city are named, with a Palestinian flag on its forehead. At the base of the statue, more than ten tents set up by protesters can be seen.
The Students’ Demands
The students are demanding an end to Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, as well as improved humanitarian conditions in the region. They are also calling for an end to US military support for Israel. As Yazen, an American-Palestinian student in New York, explained, “Thousands of Palestinians in Gaza sleep in the cold every night without access to food or a shelter. It’s time for us to take a stand.”
The Fallout
The protests have sparked a heated debate, with some accusing the students of anti-Semitism. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson visited Columbia University, where he threatened to ask Joe Biden to mobilize the National Guard on campuses, which he said were at the mercy of a “virus of anti-Semitism.” However, others have defended the students’ right to protest, arguing that they are exercising their freedom of speech.
Conclusion
The pro-Palestinian student movement is a growing force, with students from across the country coming together to demand an end to Israel’s operations in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Despite the challenges, the students remain committed to their cause, and their protests are likely to continue in the coming weeks and months.
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