Authorities detained at least four individuals participating in a student protest on the University of Texas at Austin campus in support of Palestine amid the Israel-Hamas war. The protesters, who had gathered outside the university’s Gregory Gym, demanded that the university divest from manufacturers supplying Israel weapons in its strikes on Gaza. They planned to march to the South Lawn and sit down throughout the day. However, as the number of protesters swelled to over 200, authorities ordered them to disperse, warning of possible criminal trespass charges. One of the protesters, who was assisting in organizing the event, was singled out and designated as the first to be arrested. After the initial arrests, officers informed the diminishing crowd that further arrests would follow if they did not disperse. Dozens of Texas Department of Public Safety officers, some on horseback and clad in riot gear, were present at the scene. Some protesters were seen being pushed with batons. These arrests at UT-Austin follow similar demonstrations and arrests at the University of Texas at Dallas a day earlier, as reported by The Dallas Morning News. In recent months, tensions have escalated on campuses across the U.S. between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups, fueled by the re-emergence of the decades-old Middle East conflict with horrific violence. Hamas militants launched a surprise offensive in October, resulting in over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages. In response, the Israeli military initiated a campaign that has so far wounded nearly 77,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, with two-thirds of the casualties being civilians. The devastating violence, widely shared on social media, has sparked demonstrations on campuses nationwide. Last week, Columbia University requested the New York Police Department to clear a campus encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters, leading to over 100 arrests. According to the Columbia Spectator, the university’s student newspaper, no injuries or arrests were reported. Amid the protests, some Jewish students have expressed feelings of insecurity and harassment. In response to the arrests, Columbia’s faculty senate planned a vote on a resolution to censure President Nemat Shafik, with members of Congress from both parties calling for her resignation due to alleged failures in protecting students from antisemitism. Similar protests have occurred at other universities, including New York University, Yale University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. On Texas campuses, previous protests have sparked debates among students over the handling of the sensitive issue and the commitment to free speech on campus. As pro-Palestine and pro-Israel students engage in protests and heated discussions, university leaders face challenges in balancing their roles as moderators and facilitators of intellectual campus discourse. Universities have also encountered pressure from state leaders who openly support Israel. Governor Greg Abbott, who reaffirmed his support in November, issued an executive order last month requiring schools to revise their free speech policies and address what he described as “the sharp rise in antisemitic speech and acts on university campuses.” While affirming support for free speech, especially on university campuses, Abbott emphasized in the order that this freedom carries responsibilities for both students and institutions.
Arrests at UT-Austin Amidst Pro-Palestine Protest
