Pro-Palestinian demonstrations at several prominent US universities have culminated in a series of arrests as tensions surrounding the ongoing conflict in Gaza spill onto college campuses.
On Monday, police intervened at Yale University in Connecticut and New York University (NYU) in Manhattan, detaining dozens of individuals amid protests calling for action against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
At Yale, demonstrators rallied for the institution to divest from military weapons manufacturers, prompting a police response resulting in over 45 arrests, as reported by the student-run Yale Daily News.
Meanwhile, in New York City, officers dispersed crowds at NYU after protesters defied university warnings to vacate a plaza where they had gathered. The confrontations escalated after dusk, with video footage on social media capturing police dismantling protesters’ encampments.
Authorities cited trespassing violations as the reason for the arrests, with exact figures yet to be disclosed. However, no immediate injuries were reported during the incidents.
These protests are part of a broader wave of demonstrations across US universities in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, which escalated following a cross-border raid by Hamas militants last year.
Columbia University in New York City canceled in-person classes on Monday following a week-long occupation of its main lawn by demonstrators demanding divestment from Israel-related investments. Last week, over 100 students were arrested for trespassing during the encampment, prompting condemnation from some faculty members.
Columbia’s president, Nemat Minouche Shafik, defended the university’s actions, attributing tensions to outside agitators while emphasizing the institution’s commitment to addressing antisemitism allegations.
The situation at Columbia has also drawn attention from high-profile figures, with major donor Robert Kraft threatening to withhold funding until “corrective action” is taken to protect Jewish students.
Reports of confrontations between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups at Columbia have surfaced, although police stated no physical harm had been inflicted on students. Nevertheless, tensions remain high, with ongoing demonstrations and solidarity events attracting both faculty and students.
US President Joe Biden weighed in on the issue, condemning antisemitism and affirming support for the Jewish community. However, student organizers at Columbia criticized Biden’s statement, emphasizing their rejection of hate while defending their right to protest against Israeli actions.
As the conflict in Gaza continues to reverberate globally, universities in the US grapple with balancing free speech rights with maintaining campus safety amid escalating tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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