The University of Southern California and other campuses across the United States have been experiencing protests against the Israel-Hamas war, leading to disruptions and arrests. College officials are concerned about these protests affecting upcoming commencement ceremonies, with some universities resorting to calling in police to intervene. Negotiations are ongoing with protesters at various campuses, with some universities implementing new rules to prevent encampments.
Protests and encampments have continued to appear at universities such as Indiana University Bloomington and the City College of New York, resulting in clashes with police and arrests. Students protesting the war are calling for universities to sever financial ties with Israel and divest from companies supporting the conflict. Jewish students have raised concerns about the protests veering into antisemitism, making them feel uncomfortable on campus.
The University of Southern California canceled its main graduation ceremony after a large number of protesters were arrested on campus, including one on allegations of assault with a deadly weapon. Other universities like Emerson College in Boston also saw dozens of arrests, with police forcibly removing protesters from an alleyway encampment. Authorities in Boston and Atlanta used force to dismantle protests, resulting in injuries and arrests.
The University of Texas at Austin saw a calmer scene after previous arrests, as students and faculty gathered to protest the war and Wednesday’s arrests by state troopers. Emory University in Atlanta also faced police action to dismantle a camp, leading to arrests and deployment of crowd control measures. Some colleges, like Harvard, chose not to take immediate action against protesters, while others like Northwestern University changed student conduct rules to prohibit tents on campus.
The protests at many universities were inspired by events at Columbia University, where police cleared an encampment and arrested over 100 people. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona emphasized the importance of embracing student voices but warned against hate, discrimination, or violence. The Department of Education has launched civil rights investigations into multiple universities and schools in response to complaints of antisemitism or Islamophobia, including Harvard and Columbia.
College campuses nationwide are grappling with protests related to the Israel-Hamas war, leading to disruptions, arrests, and clashes with police. While some universities are negotiating with protesters and implementing new rules, others have seen forceful dismantlements of encampments. The protests have sparked tensions and concerns about antisemitism among some students, with authorities monitoring the situation and launching investigations into civil rights violations.
