College Campuses in Chaos: Protests Erupt Over Financial Ties to Israel

Protests are sweeping college campuses across the country as schools with graduation ceremonies next month resist demands to cut financial ties to Israel because of the Israel-Hamas war.

Many campuses were largely quiet over the weekend but activists on both sides of the issue shouted and shook each other at dueling demonstrations Sunday at the University of California, Los Angeles. About 275 people were arrested Saturday at various campuses including Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis. The number of arrests nationwide has reached nearly 900 since New York police dispersed a pro-Palestinian protest camp at Columbia University and arrested more than 100 demonstrators on April 18.

Since then, students have joined dozens of pro-Palestinian encampments across the country, prompting a range of responses from administrators: arrests and criminal charges, student boycotts or simply continued protests to leave. The student situation has become a central part of protests, with students and a growing number of faculty calling for amnesty for activists. The question is whether the suspensions and legal records will follow students through their adult lives.

Faculty members at universities in California, Georgia and Texas have initiated or passed symbolic votes of no confidence in their leadership.

The White House national security spokesman, John Kirby, said that President Joe Biden “knows that there are strong feelings” but that he would leave the management of the protests to local authorities.

“People should be able to express their opinions and share their opinions publicly but it has to be peaceful,” Kirby said on “ABC’s This Week.”

In an interview that began Sunday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said it was a “dangerous situation” and placed the responsibility on college administrators.

“There is also antisemitism, which is absolutely unacceptable. I was surprised to see that in this country,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

HOW IT BEGAN

Early protests at Columbia University in New York City sparked pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country and students and administrators have engaged in discussions, the university said in a statement Saturday night.

Columbia has set a series of dates for the protesters to leave the camp — which they have missed — but bringing back the police would be prohibited “at this time,” the school wrote in an email. to students.

On Sunday, students walked among dozens of colorful tents that are still standing.

CALIFORNIA

At the University of California, Los Angeles, police set up barricades before hundreds of demonstrators on both sides joined a growing crowd Sunday near where pro-Palestinian students have been living around the clock in tents. Counter-protesters who organized a “Stand in Support of Jewish Students” rally said their goal was to “stand up against hate and anti-semitism.”

Across town, the University of Southern California said it was open Sunday after being shut down a day earlier because of what the university called vandalism and riots.

The USC drew criticism after it refused to allow the valedictorian, who has publicly supported the Palestinian cause, to deliver a commencement speech. Administrators then canceled filmmaker Jon M. Chu’s keynote speech. Last week the school announced the cancellation of its main graduation event, a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested by police in riot gear.

In the northern part of the state, officials on Saturday ordered a “mandatory hard closure” of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt. Pro-Palestine demonstrators were still occupying two halls. The school said on Sunday that the cost of the post – including damage caused by “theft, vandalism and graffiti” – was estimated to be in the millions.

MISSOURI

Washington University in St. Louis locked down some campus buildings and arrested protesters on Saturday. Footage showed police in uniform trying to remove masked protesters as others, also wearing masks, had their arms linked to stop the efforts.

In a statement, the university said that more than 100 people – including 23 students and four university staff – were arrested on suspicion of committing a crime. Megan Green, president of the Board of St. Louis of Aldermen, in a post on social media that she was present and that the protest was silent “until the police came in like an ambush.”

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein said in a post on social media that she and two of her campaign managers were among those arrested.

The university’s statement defended the matter and said that “the protesters on our campus did not have good intentions and that this demonstration had the potential to get out of control and become dangerous.”

Some of those arrested are also charged with resisting arrest and assault, including wounding three police officers, the statement said. These injuries include a severe concussion, a broken finger and a groin injury.

The Missouri chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the arrests as “heavy-handed.”

MASSACHUSETTS

In Boston, police in riot gear cleared an encampment on the campus of Northeastern University on Saturday.

Massachusetts State Police said about 102 protesters were arrested and will be charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Northeastern said in a statement that the demonstration, which began two days ago, was “introduced by professional organizers” with no connection to the university and contained antisemitic slurs, including ” killing the Jews,” is used.

Student group Huskies for Free Palestine disputed the university’s account, saying in a statement that activists were to blame for the slurs and that student activists “did not repeat the hateful hate speech.”

Students at a protest in Boston said a prosecutor tried to incite hate speech but called for their event to be peaceful.

CAMPUSES AND THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR

Protests broke out across the country in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. Hamas launched a deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, when terrorists killed around 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took around 250 hostages. Voting to eliminate Hamas, Israel launched an offensive in Gaza. In the ensuing war, Israel has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the region’s health ministry.

Israel and its supporters have characterized the university’s protests as antisemitic, while Israel’s critics say they are using these accusations to silence opponents. Although some protesters have been caught on camera making antisemitic comments or threatening violence, organizers of the protests, some of whom are Jewish, say it is a peaceful movement aimed at Palestinian rights. defend and protest the war.

___

Beck reported from Omaha, Neb. and Thompson of Buffalo, Associated Press reporters in NY in several locations contributed, including Christopher Weber, Jacques Billeaud, Aaron Morrison, Stefanie Dazio, Kathy McCormack, Jim Vertuno, Acacia Coronado, Sudhin Thanawala, Jeff Amy, Jeff Martin, Mike Stewart, Collin Binkley, Jake Offenhartz, Jesse Bedayn and Sophia Tareen.