Tensions flared at Columbia University as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters faced a deadline to clear their encampment. Despite President Minouche Shafik’s midnight ultimatum, students remained steadfast in their demands to sever the university’s financial ties to Israel. Meanwhile, at Cal Poly Humboldt in California, protesters barricaded two buildings, blocking entrances with furniture and zip ties. The defiance in the conservative region underscored the growing support for the pro-Palestinian movement on college campuses.
Amidst the intensified demonstrations, universities are navigating the delicate balance between campus safety and free speech rights. Columbia’s heavy-handed response, including arrests and eviction notices, has raised concerns about the suppression of dissent. Harvard University has taken preemptive measures to prevent protests by locking gates and posting warnings, while other campuses have resorted to police intervention to clear encampments.
The New York Civil Liberties Union cautions against the quick involvement of law enforcement, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue instead of silencing opposing views. However, students at the University of Michigan express unease over antisemitic rhetoric and hate speech circulating amidst the protests.
Protesters draw inspiration from the ongoing student movement at Columbia, demanding that universities cut ties with Israel’s defense ministry and divest from companies involved in the conflict. The growing number of encampments and demonstrations highlights the deepening divisions and concerns over the human cost of the ongoing war in Gaza.
