Student protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict have been escalating on college campuses across the United States, with peaceful demonstrations turning into violent clashes at some universities.
At the University of Southern California, student protesters were peacefully arrested as they voiced their opposition to the war. On the other hand, at the University of Texas at Austin, clashes between protesters and police turned violent, leading to dozens of arrests. A photographer for Fox 7 Austin covering the demonstration was also arrested, and a journalist was injured after being pushed by police.
Tensions have been running high at Columbia University, where students set up a camp in protest of the university’s suspension of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee. Pro-Palestinian protesters at universities nationwide are demanding divestment from companies supporting the conflict and an end to financial ties with Israel.
Jewish students have raised concerns about antisemitism and threats they have faced, prompting increased security measures from university officials. Harvard University, Columbia University, and others have seen ongoing protests and encampments related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Law enforcement has intervened at multiple campuses, resulting in arrests and further escalating tensions between students and university administrations. At Columbia, a graduate student placed images of Israeli hostages near the encampment to raise awareness of their situation.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar joined a protest at the University of Minnesota following the arrest of nine protesters for setting up an encampment. A group of professors has called on university administrators to drop charges against protesters and allow future demonstrations without police intervention. The situation remains fluid as students continue to protest and demand action from their universities.
“Social media scholar. Reader. Zombieaholic. Hardcore music maven. Web fanatic. Coffee practitioner. Explorer.”