Police broke up a demonstration against Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza at Emory University in Atlanta, part of a growing movement on college campuses across the country. Similar protests and arrests have been reported in California, Massachusetts, Texas, and New York in recent days. At Emory, protesters set up tents on the quad while chanting slogans in support of Palestinians and against the construction of a public safety training center in Atlanta. When asked to leave, some protesters refused and were ultimately taken into custody by police.
In Boston, chaos erupted at Emerson College as police attempted to break up a pro-Palestinian alleyway camp, resulting in 108 arrests and injuries sustained by four police officers. Protesters resisted officers and were eventually charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct. At Harvard University in Cambridge, protesters set up a camp against the university’s suspension of a pro-Palestine student organization. At Temple University in Philadelphia, over 100 students walked out of class to march to City Hall, joined by students from Drexel University.
At the University of Southern California (USC), 93 protesters were arrested for trespassing, leading to the cancellation of the main commencement ceremony due to safety concerns. Tensions were high at USC following the cancellation of a pro-Palestinian valedictorian’s commencement speech. In Northern California at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, students barricaded inside a building for three days, prompting the closure of the campus. At the University of Texas at Austin, local and state police forcefully moved against protesters, leading to arrests and injuries.
At Columbia University in New York, students erected an encampment ahead of graduation, leading to negotiations and over 100 arrests. Congress members weighed in on the protests, with calls for law enforcement intervention and accusations of radical extremism. Despite rumors of the National Guard being called in, university officials focused on dialogue and restoring order. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar visited Columbia protesters, expressing support for their peaceful demonstration. The protests continue to demand divestment from companies supporting the Israel-Hamas conflict, sparking debate and heightened security measures on college campuses nationwide.
