As the Israel-Hamas war continues, protests have erupted on college campuses across the United States. Students are demanding that schools cut financial ties with Israel and divest from companies accused of enabling the conflict. This has led to tensions, with law enforcement being called in and hundreds of protesters being arrested nationwide. School officials are facing pressure to resolve the protests as graduation ceremonies approach.
Protests began at Columbia University in New York City and quickly spread, sparking demonstrations in other states. At Washington University in St. Louis, more than 80 people were arrested during a protest that started in public areas before moving to the campus. Green Party Presidential Candidate Jill Stein and her campaign managers were among those arrested. The St. Louis Police Department assisted campus police but did not make any arrests themselves.
In California, the University of Southern California temporarily closed its campus to nonresidents after its property was vandalized by protesters. Attempts by university President Carol Folt to meet with the students were declined, and the administration is hoping for a more reasonable response before taking further action. USC faced criticism for refusing to allow the valedictorian, who supports the Palestinian cause, to speak at commencement.
In Massachusetts, police in riot gear cleared an encampment at Northeastern University, resulting in the arrest of about 102 protesters. Professional organizers with no affiliation to the university infiltrated the demonstration, using antisemitic slurs such as “kill the Jews.” The Huskies for a Free Palestine student group refuted the university’s account, stating that no student protesters engaged in hate speech.
At Indiana University, 23 people were arrested at an encampment on the Bloomington campus for refusing to remove tents and canopies. Similarly, Arizona State University arrested 69 people for setting up an unauthorized encampment on its Tempe campus. The nationwide protests on campuses aim to draw attention to what protesters describe as the “genocide” in Gaza and hold universities accountable for their complicity in the war.
Critics of the protests have accused them of being antisemitic, while organizers, including some who are Jewish, maintain that the movement is peaceful and aimed at defending Palestinian rights. Despite some instances of antisemitism and violent threats by individual protesters, the overall goal is to stand in solidarity with Palestine and oppose the ongoing conflict with Israel. The protests have put pressure on school officials to address the demands of students and resolve the tensions on campuses as the war between Israel and Hamas continues.
