US Campus Unrest: Pro-Palestine Protests Disrupt 21 Colleges
From coast to coast, nearly two dozen US colleges are grappling with disruptive pro-Palestine protests this week. Among them, four campuses in Massachusetts, California, Texas, and New York have been particularly affected. Here's a brief update on the recent protests happening at 21 colleges across the US, where demonstrators are showing support for Palestine:
Here's a list of the colleges affected:
- Brown University, Providence, R.I.
- California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Arcata, Calif.
- Columbia University / Barnard College, New York, N.Y.
- Emerson College, Boston, Mass.
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
- New York University, New York, N.Y.
- Rice University, Houston, Texas
- The New School, New York, N.Y.
- Tufts University, Medford, Mass.
- University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, Calif.
- University of Illinois, Champaign, Ill.
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
- University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, Minn.
- University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, N.M.
- University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Penn.
- University of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y.
- University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Calif.
- Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn.
- Yale University, New Haven, Conn.
Please note that Joe Biden's visit to Columbia University might be affected due to these ongoing protests.
JUST IN: Pro-Palestine agitators disrupt campuses across the US, several arrests made https://t.co/3KhI9NqHJf
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) March 9, 2024
1. Nationwide protests: Pro-Palestinian demonstrations have erupted at 21 universities across the country. The New York Police Department had to intervene at the University of New York and Yale to manage the protests, leading several institutions to move classes online or close parts of their campuses.
2. College locations: The affected colleges include prestigious institutions like Columbia University, Harvard University, and the University of California, Berkeley, among others.
3. Arrests on campuses: Dozens of protestors have been detained during these demonstrations, with significant arrests reported at the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Southern California. At UT Austin alone, 34 individuals were detained, while USC witnessed over 93 arrests.
4. Origins of the protests: The wave of protests started at Columbia University, where students demanded the institution divest from Israeli-linked weapons manufacturers. These protests have now spread to various campuses, leading to numerous suspensions and arrests.
5. House Speaker's involvement: House Speaker Mike Johnson's visit to Columbia University was met with opposition from pro-Palestinian protesters. He condemned the demonstrations as “mob rule” and criticized what he perceived as rising antisemitism on college campuses.
6. Governor's response: New York Governor Kathy Hochul criticized Johnson's visit as “divisive” and accused him of politicizing the issue. She emphasized the need to address other pressing matters in Washington.
7. Calls for resignations: Speaker Johnson called for the resignation of Columbia's president, Minouche Shafik, alleging her failure to protect Jewish students. However, Shafik extended a deadline for negotiations with protest leaders regarding the dismantling of encampments on campus.
8. Student activism: Thousands of students have participated in marches and encampments across US campuses, advocating for Palestinian rights and calling for divestment from companies with ties to Israel.
9. Campus disruptions: Some protests have led to campus shutdowns, like at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, where protesters barricaded themselves in a building. At Harvard University, students set up encampments to protest against the suspension of a Palestine solidarity committee.
10. Law enforcement response: Police have responded forcefully to some protests, with clashes reported at UT Austin and over 100 arrests made at Columbia University.
Despite crackdowns and arrests, pro-Palestine agitators continue to disrupt university campuses across the country. Many Jewish students at Columbia have reported being physically blocked from attending classes. Additionally, it's unlikely that President Joe Biden will visit Columbia University during his upcoming trip to New York.
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