Students at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill engaged in a patriotic moment that captured the nation’s attention. Anti-Israel protesters successfully replaced the American flag on the campus quad with a Palestinian flag, prompting Chancellor Lee Roberts to respond with law enforcement officers to restore the American flag. Subsequent attempts by activists to take down the American flag were met with resistance from a smaller group of students. Videos circulating on social media show students singing the National Anthem and chanting “USA” as the American flag was re-raised on the flagpole.
Student Guillermo Estrada, class of 2027, expressed his disappointment at seeing the American flag replaced with the Palestinian flag and described the chaotic scenes that followed as Chancellor Roberts and officers attempted to restore the American flag. Estrada, who comes from an immigrant family and a military community, shared his pride in defending the flag with his fraternity brothers. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to support Chapel Hill’s Pi Kappa Phi chapter, raising over $57,000 for their efforts in defending the flag.
Chancellor Roberts made clear that the American flag would remain in place as long as he held his position, emphasizing the university’s commitment to providing a safe environment for all students. Approximately 30 protesters were detained after refusing to clear an encampment on the quad despite instructions from university administrators. The protests at Chapel Hill were part of a larger trend of student demonstrations across elite schools in the country, with students showing support for Gaza and protesting against Israel amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The university’s school-wide alert system, Alert Carolina, issued a critical advisory canceling classes and non-mandatory activities in the afternoon. Tuition at the elite public university ranges from just under $9,000 for North Carolina residents to just under $40,000 for out-of-state students. The protests at Chapel Hill reflected a broader movement among students at elite schools nationwide, who have set up encampments, occupied buildings, clashed with law enforcement, and resisted arrest in support of Gaza and against Israel. The protests began at Columbia University and have since spread to schools across the country.
UNC Police detained approximately 30 protesters who refused to leave the encampment on the quad, attempting to block police vehicles and escalating their tactics by forcibly trying to enter a university building. Chancellor Roberts and Provost Chris Clemens reiterated the university’s support for students’ right to assemble and express their views while emphasizing the need to follow university policies. Despite the disruptions caused by the protests, the university remained committed to maintaining a safe and inclusive environment for all students on campus. The events at Chapel Hill underscored the complex issues surrounding free speech, patriotism, activism, and public discourse on college campuses.
