Protests have erupted on college campuses across the country in response to Israel’s war on Gaza, leading to hundreds of arrests. The protesters are calling for a permanent cease-fire, divestment from companies profiting from the war, and an end to U.S. military assistance for Israel. In high-profile instances at Columbia University, over 100 people were arrested as students and faculty protested the university’s investments. These demonstrations have drawn comparisons to protests in 1968 over the Vietnam War that resulted in hundreds of arrests and injuries.
The demonstrations have spread to various universities, with arrests occurring at New York University, Yale University, California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, the University of Minnesota, and Ohio State University. Despite accusations of antisemitism and claims of being unsafe for Jewish students, many of the protesters are themselves Jewish students advocating for Palestinian freedom. Jewish students have formed solidarity encampments on campuses, condemning hateful comments targeting Jewish students while criticizing university actions that they believe do not ensure the safety of all students.
The White House and university administrators have condemned the protests, mistakenly assuming that all Jewish students in the U.S. support Israel’s actions. Jewish Voice for Peace has criticized the administration for obstructing religious observances of Jewish students and preventing access to their community. White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates stressed the importance of denouncing violence, intimidation, and antisemitic rhetoric, stating that silence is complicity. Faculty and staff at Morehouse College in Atlanta have condemned the war and President Biden’s stance, denouncing any college that endorses genocide by inviting him to speak at commencement.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has a long history of tension, with the current escalation beginning when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and took 240 hostages during an attack in Israel. Since then, Israeli defense forces have killed more than 34,000 Palestinians and injured over 77,000 others. Approximately 85% of Gaza’s 2.3 million population has been displaced, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. These protests on college campuses reflect growing concerns about the violence and unrest in the region, with students and faculty taking a stand against the war and calling for justice and peace for the people of Gaza.
