Student protests against Israel’s war on Gaza have intensified across the United States, with hundreds of arrests as police in riot gear disperse demonstrators at the University ofTexas at Austin (UT Austin) and the University of Southern California (USC). The movement, which began at Columbia University in New York last week, demands that universities cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the months-long war in Gaza, where Israeli attacks have killed at least 34,262 Palestinians. The protests have been largely peaceful but met with heavy-handed action from many universities amid claims of anti-Semitism. On Wednesday, hundreds of students staged a walkout at UT Austin and marched to the campus’s main lawn, planning to set up an encampment. The university called in local and state police to disperse the crowd, leading to at least 34 arrests. Texas Governor Greg Abbott condemned the protesters, calling for their expulsion. However, Professor Jeremi Suri of UT Austin, who is Jewish, dismissed the anti-Semitism claims, stating that the students were merely chanting “free Palestine.” USC also used force to quell an encampment attempt, arresting dozens of students as helicopters hovered overhead. Campus Provost Andrew Guzman justified the move, citing threats to campus safety. Al Jazeera’s Rob Reynolds reported that the protest was entirely peaceful, with no confrontations or harassment observed. Law professor Jody Armour condemned the use of anti-Semitism allegations to suppress the protests, emphasizing that opposition to Israel’s actions does not equate to anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, hundreds of students at Harvard University set up an encampment at Harvard Yard, defying threats of disciplinary action. Similar scenes unfolded at Brown University, where students erected 40 tents. Columbia University extended a deadline for protesters to disperse, averting another confrontation. House Speaker Mike Johnson advocated for National Guard deployment, expressing concern about anti-Semitism and threatening to demand action from President Joe Biden. Protesters dismissed his remarks as a distraction from the real issues. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre reaffirmed Biden’s support for free speech on college campuses.
Student Protests Against Israel’s Gaza War Intensify Across US, Sparking Arrests and Campus Crackdowns
