Police forces were deployed across numerous US university campuses on Wednesday following the forceful removal of ongoing protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict.
At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), dozens of police cars patrolled the campus due to violent confrontations that erupted overnight when counter-protesters targeted an encampment of pro-Palestinian students.
In New York City, Columbia University, where the demonstrations have been most intense, police were on standby after entering campus late Tuesday to quell the protests. The presence of helmeted police at these prestigious institutions has dismayed students.
Some students at Columbia and the City University of New York (CUNY), where police cleared protesters overnight, condemned the alleged “rough and aggressive” tactics used by officers. One CUNY student, who identified himself only as Jose, recounted being “assaulted, brutally arrested, and held for up to six hours” before being released with various injuries.
A medical student providing treatment to detained students described severe head traumas, concussions, and injuries sustained from being knocked unconscious or thrown down stairs.
Police Commissioner Edward Caban announced that approximately 300 arrests were made at Columbia and CUNY. Mayor Eric Adams attributed the escalating tensions to “outside agitators” despite denials from Columbia students.
University president Minouche Shafik, who faced criticism for her decision to involve police, expressed her deep sadness over the developments. “I am sorry we reached this point,” she stated.
Since last month, demonstrations have taken place at at least 30 US universities, often involving tent encampments to protest the rising death toll in Gaza. These protests have challenged university administrators as they attempt to balance free speech rights with concerns over criminal activity, anti-Semitism, and hate speech.
The Biden administration has aimed to navigate this delicate balance while supporting Israel’s defense. “We believe it’s a small number of students causing this disruption,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. However, former President Donald Trump voiced his support for the police response at Columbia.
On Tuesday night, police entered Columbia’s campus, climbed into Hamilton Hall through a second-floor window, and led out protesters in handcuffs. The large tent encampment was also cleared.
At UCLA, fireworks were thrown and counter-protesters sprayed chemical substances on the pro-Palestinian encampment, leading to police intervention.
Fordham University, a Jesuit institution in New York, recently initiated its own campus protest. University of Wisconsin at Madison, University of Texas at Dallas, and University of Arizona have also faced police presence and arrests.
The Gaza conflict began with an attack by Hamas militants on October 7, resulting in over 1,170 Israeli fatalities, predominantly civilians. Israel’s response has led to over 34,500 deaths in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
