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| 5.1.24

Protests Grow Nationwide as Students Demand Divestment From Israel

Should the U.S. call for a ceasefire in Gaza?

Updated May 1, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST

  • The battle between protesters and police has intensified on college campuses across the nation.
  • On Tuesday night, the NYPD arrested approximately 300 protesters at Columbia University and City College of New York. At Columbia, the police cleared out an academic building that students occupied, using an armored vehicle to enter the hall. Observers are criticizing the violent and unnecessary force used by police officers.
  • At the University of California, Los Angeles, counter-protesters attacked the demonstrators, tearing apart their barricade, using physical violence against students, and launching at least one firework into the group's encampment. Witnesses noted the lack of LAPD and UCLA campus police presence during the height of the violence. Officers stood back and watched the events unfold as they said they could no longer "safely hold" space for the encampment. Eventually, California Highway Police removed the attackers. 
  • Last week, the University of Texas in Austin called in State Troopers to dismantle the students' encampment. The troopers deployed chemical sprays and flash bangs as they arrested over 100 students. 
  • At the University of Arizona, police fired "non-lethal" chemical weapons at protesters and hit at least one student with a rubber bullet while arrests occurred. 
  • Similar events are happening at a handful of other schools across the nation, including Tulane University, Portland State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and more. 

Updated Apr. 23, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST

  • Protests are growing on college campuses across the country, inspired by the demonstrations occurring at Columbia University. 
  • Last week, students set up an encampment on Columbia’s main lawn, demanding the university divest from companies with ties to Israel. Over 100 students were arrested after President Minouche Shafik called the New York Police Department to detain those who refused to leave the encampment. Many of the students have been temporarily suspended, including the daughter of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, and kicked out of their dorms. On Monday, Columbia faculty held a walkout, condemning the president’s decision to bring the NYPD onto campus. Lecturer at Columbia, Bassam Khawaja, told the Guardian:

“[I am] shocked and appalled that the president went immediately to the New York police department. This was by all accounts a non-violent protest. It was a group of students camping out on the lawn in the middle of campus. It’s not any different from everyday life on campus.”

  • Columbia announced that classes would be taught remotely for the rest of the semester. At the same time, Shafik testified in front of the House of Representatives in Colubmia’s response to antisemitism. 
  • Simultaneously, New York University students started an encampment on Gould Plaza outside of the Stern School of Business. Over 100 students and faculty members were arrested Monday night as the community demanded NYU divests from the Tel Aviv campus. Students at Yale University were also arrested Monday, similarly demanding divestment from military weapons manufacturers with ties to Israel.
  • Protests have also been held at Brown, Princeton, Northwestern, University of California, Berkeley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emerson College, and more.

Updated Oct. 31, 12:30 p.m. EST

  • Protests are continuing in Washington, D.C., with demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. On Tuesday, protesters interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a Senate hearing, repeatedly yelling "Ceasefire now" when he attempted to speak. 
  • Secretary Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are testifying about the White House's national security funding request of $106 billion, which includes $14.3 billion to Israel's military efforts. 
  • Capitol police arrested 12 people for illegally protesting inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building. 

What’s the story?

  • At least 300 people have been arrested near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., during a protest against the Israel-Hamas war. 
  • The number is expected to rise as the full amount of arrests are processed and counted for, authorities said.
  • Most were arrested inside the Cannon House Office, which occupies congressional staffers and does not allow protests. Three people were charged with assaulting an officer. 

What were the protests calling for?

  • The protestors are urging President Joe Biden and Congress to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
  • The rally was held by two left-wing Jewish advocacy groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now. Both are fighting against the State of Israel. Demonstrators wore shirts that read “Jews say ceasefire now” and “Not in our name.” The American Jewish organizations are heavily criticizing the government’s lack of action to help the Palestinian people. 
  • One protester at the Capitol said into a megaphone:

“Equality, Justice, and Freedom. The only way towards true safety…is to de-escalate, and address the root cause of this horrific violence.”

  • Organizers sang in both Hebrew and English. Many expressed their anger at the blast at the hospital in Gaza, which killed hundreds.

Police actions

  • The police closed streets around the Capitol on Wednesday in anticipation of the large protests. 
  • Capitol police forces said Wednesday afternoon:

“We warned the protesters to stop demonstrating and when they did not comply we began arresting them.”

  • Police were seen restraining protesters with zip ties.

For more information…

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Should the U.S. call for a ceasefire in Gaza?

 

-Jamie Epstein

(Photo credit: Jewish Voice for Peace)