Police have been working to clear pro-Palestinian demonstrators from various college campuses, resulting in over 1,500 arrests at more than 30 universities. In addition to crackdowns, universities have canceled commencements, moved classes online, and restricted campus access. The protests were sparked by an attack by Hamas on Israel that resulted in nearly 1,200 deaths, prompting Israel to declare war and launch an invasion that has killed over 34,000 Palestinians.
While there is no single organizing group for the protests in the U.S., a common demand among demonstrators is for American universities to divest from companies with ties to Israel’s government or those supplying it with weapons. Demonstrators at Columbia University, for example, have called for divestment by chanting “Disclose, divest, we will not stop, we will not rest.” Similar movements in the past, such as efforts to pressure universities to divest from South Africa’s apartheid government in the 1980s, have seen success.
The arrests of protesters at college campuses raise questions about free speech rights. While the First Amendment protects free speech, actions that disrupt the rights of others or pose safety risks can lead to consequences. Some students arrested at Arizona State University have filed a lawsuit against the school over alleged infringement of their free speech rights. It may fall to the courts to determine if universities have overstepped by bringing in police to arrest protesters.
President Biden has faced criticism from a portion of his base over his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict, prompting him to walk a delicate line regarding the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. Biden has emphasized that Americans have the right to peacefully protest within the law, but taking over buildings or causing disruptions is not considered peaceful. Former President Trump has also commented on the protests, questioning whether the treatment of the detainees would be comparable to what his supporters faced during the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
The political implications of the protests and crackdowns are significant, with tensions running high among various factions. Biden’s response to the demonstrations has been carefully balanced, with the need to uphold free speech rights while also ensuring safety on campus. The actions of the protesters and the response from authorities will continue to be scrutinized, with potential legal repercussions for universities accused of infringing on free speech rights. The ongoing debate over Israel-Palestine tensions and the role of American universities in divestment will likely remain at the forefront of national conversations.
