The University of Southern California was the site of a pro-Palestinian encampment that was surrounded by police early Sunday, with campus safety officers assisted by the Los Angeles Police Department clearing the area. Protesters inside the encampment were given an ultimatum to leave within 15 minutes before facing arrest. The encampment had restarted after 93 people were initially arrested on April 24. The encampment was set up on a campus green space with tents surrounded by makeshift fencing covered in signs with messages of support for Palestinians and criticism of the university and law enforcement.
In a similar incident at the University of Virginia, 25 people were arrested for trespassing after police clashed with pro-Palestinian protesters who refused to remove tents from campus. Video footage showed police in heavy gear and holding shields lined up on the campus while protesters chanted “Free Palestine.” Students were pushed to the ground, pulled by their arms, and sprayed with a chemical irritant in the confrontation. The University of Virginia administration stated that the tents and canopies that the demonstrators erected were prohibited under school policy and asked them to remove them.
The protests at USC and the University of Virginia are part of a larger trend of demonstrations at colleges and universities across the country, calling for divestment from companies supporting the war in Gaza. Many of the protests have resulted in arrests, with at least 61 incidents recorded by the Associated Press since April 18, involving over 2,400 people being arrested on 47 campuses. The protests have disrupted final exams and commencement ceremonies at various institutions, including Indiana University, Ohio State University, and Northeastern University in Boston.
At the University of Michigan, protesters chanted anti-war messages and waved flags during commencement ceremonies, with some wearing traditional Arabic kaffiyehs. The demonstrators marched up the main aisle toward the graduation stage, chanting slogans criticizing the university’s ties to Israel. Despite the protest, the event was not seriously interrupted, and no arrests were made. Similar protests and hunger strikes have taken place at institutions like Princeton, where students are urging the university to divest from companies tied to Israel.
The protests stem from the conflict that began on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel, leading to a retaliatory offensive by Israel in Gaza. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with protesters at universities demanding accountability and action from their respective institutions. The demonstrations have sparked debates about free speech, activism, and the role of universities in global conflicts. Commencement events at various schools have been affected, with protests continuing despite university efforts to maintain order and security.
Overall, the protests at universities reflect a growing student movement advocating for policy changes regarding Israel and Palestine. The clashes between protesters and authorities highlight the tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the desire for justice and solidarity among student activists. As campuses become battlegrounds for political expression, universities are forced to navigate complex issues of free speech, safety, and social responsibility in the face of escalating conflicts around the world.
