College students across the U.S. have been mobilizing to protest the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians at the hands of the Israeli military. Demonstrations have spread beyond Ivy League schools and larger institutions in major cities to colleges and universities in the Midwest. Pro-Palestinian students are calling for divestments from companies that do business with Israel, increased transparency about university ties to Israel, and a public denouncement of Israel’s attacks on Gaza as genocide.
Protests at schools in the Midwest have generally been able to continue without much police intervention or incidents, unlike those at Ivy League schools and larger institutions in major cities where university officials have called in law enforcement to crack down on demonstrations. At schools like Ohio State University, the demonstrations have remained peaceful and nonviolent, with minimal confrontation with police. Similar reports have been given from protests at the University of Nebraska, University of Kansas, Iowa State University, and University of Missouri, where protesters were able to hold their protests without major police intervention.
Campus protests have also taken place at DePaul University in Illinois, with students gathering for a second day at their Chicago encampment without facing police intervention. University officials and local police have been working to keep the campus calm, avoiding violent clashes that have occurred at other schools. Some right-wing pundits and news outlets have characterized the protests at Ivy League schools and other universities on the coasts as violent, but many students, faculty, and witnesses have claimed that they were attacked by police and counter-protesters.
It is unclear whether violence was instigated before or after police intervention at the protests across the country, with some reports indicating clashes between pro-Palestinian protesters and pro-Israel counter-protesters. Politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rep. Cori Bush have criticized the police escalation at universities and in cities across the country, calling for de-escalation and an end to the nationwide crackdown on protesters. The demonstrations have drawn attention to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the impact it has on communities in the U.S. and around the world.
Overall, the protests at colleges and universities in the Midwest and other areas have highlighted the need for dialogue, understanding, and peaceful resolution to conflicts both domestically and internationally. Students are advocating for justice and accountability in the face of violence and oppression, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and activism in creating positive change. The mobilization of young people across the country demonstrates a growing consciousness and commitment to social justice issues, challenging institutions and policymakers to address the root causes of conflict and work towards a more just and equitable world.
