Nearly 2,200 anti-Israel agitators have been arrested at college campuses across the United States in recent weeks as they protest against the Israel-Hamas war and the civilian deaths in Palestine. Police have had to resort to riot gear, tactical vehicles, and flash-bang devices to clear tent encampments and occupied buildings to restore order. Specific incidents include the Columbia University crackdown where protesters were removed from Hamilton Hall, and the University of California, Los Angeles where over 200 protesters were arrested for defying orders to leave after fortifying their encampment.
The protesters at UCLA were demanding that the university stop doing business with Israel and companies that they believe support Israel’s war with Hamas. The Associated Press has recorded at least 56 separate arresting incidents at 43 different U.S. colleges and universities since April 18. Other incidents include 30 arrests at Portland State University, more than a dozen at the University of North Florida, and 90 at Dartmouth College. At the University of Southern California, 93 protesters, including 51 students, were arrested for trespassing.
In addition to Columbia and UCLA, other schools affected by the protests include the University of Texas at Austin, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, and Cal Poly Humboldt. Protest encampments at other schools have been cleared by police or voluntarily closed, while some schools negotiated agreements with protesters not to disrupt commencements. President Biden finally addressed the growing movement, defending the right to peaceful protest but condemning violence. The demonstrations began at Columbia on April 17 and escalated to other campuses across the country.
The protests at Columbia were in response to the Israel-Hamas war where more than 34,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, according to the Health Ministry. Israel launched its offensive in Gaza after a deadly attack by Hamas terrorists that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took hostages back into Gaza. Following the initial crackdown at Columbia, protesters set up new tents and defied threats of suspension, leading to additional arrests. The protests have sparked a nationwide movement that has brought thousands of people to college campuses, calling for an end to the violence in the region.
The massive response from law enforcement has raised concerns about the use of force and the impact on students’ ability to protest. Police have used a variety of tactics to clear encampments and occupied buildings, resulting in hundreds of arrests. At some schools, protesters have voluntarily left or reached agreements with officials to avoid disruptions. President Biden’s statement on the protests acknowledges the right to peaceful demonstration while condemning violence. The demonstrations highlight the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the impact it has on communities across the United States.
