According to reports from U.S. media, more than 1,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators have been detained in recent days as anti-war rallies at over 20 American colleges persist. The protests have escalated at certain institutions such as Columbia University, where they initially began, while at other campuses, tensions seem to be subsiding.
At Columbia University’s Manhattan campus on Tuesday morning, a group of protesters moved objects to block the entrance of Hamilton Hall, a building that was previously occupied by students during the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War protests of 1968. Demonstrators created a human barrier in front of the building, stating that they will only disperse if their demands are met, which include the university’s disinvestment from Israeli-affiliated businesses, full disclosure of financial holdings, and amnesty for students and faculty facing repercussions for their involvement in the protests. In response, a spokesperson for Columbia University announced on Tuesday that students occupying the building could face expulsion.
The university representative stated that the demonstrators were given an opportunity to leave peacefully and finish the semester. However, those who fail to comply with the conditions outlined since Monday will be subject to suspension. “The protesters have chosen to escalate the situation to an unsustainable level by damaging property, breaking doors and windows, and blocking entrances. We are now implementing the consequences we announced yesterday,” the spokesperson explained.
On Tuesday night, the New York police entered the Columbia University campus and began making arrests after the pro-Palestinian protesters refused to vacate the premises. Considering the escalation, the White House expressed its disapproval of the actions taken by the protesters at Columbia University. “The president firmly believes that forcibly taking control of a building on campus is absolutely the wrong approach. This does not exemplify peaceful protests,” stated John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser. “Seizing a building through force is unacceptable.” Kirby further emphasized, “A small percentage of students should not have the ability to disrupt the academic experience and legitimate studies for the rest of the student body.” Earlier on Tuesday, during a demonstration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the police entered the protest camp and arrested approximately 30 individuals.
In the afternoon, demonstrators revisited the location and substituted the American flag at the heart of the university grounds with a Palestinian flag. They joined arms and formed a circle around the flagpole, while vocalizing chants of “Intifada” and “Free Palestine,” as stated by the university’s newspaper. Subsequently, law enforcement officials reinstated the American flag. In the northwestern state of Oregon, protesters occupied a library at Portland State University throughout the night.
On Tuesday, the university implored the protesters to vacate the library and sought assistance from the police. In certain instances, clashes between the police and protesters escalated into violence. Officials reported that at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, late on Monday, police employed riot gear and pepper spray to disperse a protest after demonstrators hurled objects at officers and used chemical spray. Thirteen individuals, including six students, have been charged with unlawful assembly and trespassing. According to the New York Times, since the eruption of protests on April 18 at Columbia University, more than 1,000 protesters have been apprehended across over 20 college campuses in the United States in recent days. While tensions have escalated on certain campuses, they seem to be subsiding on others.
The series of campus anti-war protests spanning multiple days reflects the dissatisfaction of young Americans towards the Biden administration’s management of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
A recent survey conducted by CNN revealed that 71% of American adults expressed dissatisfaction with the Biden administration’s approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Notably, 81% of individuals under the age of 35 shared this sentiment.