Law enforcement agencies have arrested thousands of protesters and cleared anti-Israel encampments on college campuses across the US in an attempt to restore order. More than 2,000 students have been arrested at anti-Israel protests on university campuses across the country in the past two weeks. Demonstrations persist despite the crackdown, however, and college administrations are growing desperate to deal with the protests before they can interfere with graduation and commencement ceremonies. In Chicago, a group of protesters stole the keys to a building at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago campus and barricaded themselves inside for several hours. The school offered the protesters an alternative location to continue their protest on campus, which was refused. After unsuccessful negotiations, the Chicago Police Department ended the protest and arrested 50 people. At UCLA, violence broke out at anti-Israel student protests on campus. Pro-Israel counter-protesters attacked the encampment set up by pro-Palestine demonstrators, leading to clashes and arrests of over 200 protesters. The police union representing officers at University of California schools criticized UCLA administrators for their 'lack of response' to the violence and called for an independent investigation into the response. The recent protests at UConn are considered a continuation of this legacy of student activism [29c93d5f].
The protests on college campuses have sparked a nationwide debate. Progressive members of Congress are demanding an end to the police crackdown on the protests, while President Joe Biden has labeled the protests as 'antisemitic,' causing concern that the White House is alienating young voters. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida has criticized the crackdown, warning that it is likely to escalate tensions on campus. The recent pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses in the United States are being compared to the protests of the 1960s, but this analogy is misleading and potentially dangerous. The protests in the 1960s were sustained, mass movements that lasted for nearly 10 years and involved violent clashes with police. The current protests, while significant, have only been happening for a few weeks. Drawing a direct comparison between the two eras is not only bad history but could also lead to unnecessary tragedy [7fc54de8].
Milagros Peña, president of Purchase College, State University of New York, authorized campus and local police to forcibly break up a peaceful gathering of student protestors. Philosophy students at SUNY Purchase have been deeply involved in the pro-Palestinian protests on campus. On May 2, a group of students attempted to establish an encampment on campus, but were eventually persuaded not to set up tents. At 10pm, when the university quiet hours began, police moved in to disperse them with substantial and violent force. In an email, President Peña cited the 'quiet hours' policy as justification for the use of force. 70 people were arrested, including faculty members who were present only to observe and support the students' right to free speech. The next morning, arrested students found their belongings in and strewn around a dumpster. Students continued protesting peacefully on May 3 and have remained encamped. The faculty at Purchase College condemned the violent actions taken by campus authorities and demanded immediate action, including dropping all charges against arrested community members and conducting an independent investigation into the excessive use of police force [cd965c6f].
Apollo Global Management CEO Mark Rowan has stated that college protests are antisemitic, anti-American, and anti-Western. He argues that while people have the right to protest and exercise free speech, a failure of leadership has allowed extremist views to take over some campuses. Rowan emphasizes that a small group of people should not be allowed to impose their will on the rest [c277911b].
Police cleared a pro-Palestinian tent encampment at George Washington University and arrested 33 demonstrators. The crackdown led to the cancellation of a hearing by the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. Tensions have been rising in protests against the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the US and Europe. Police also broke up an encampment at the University of Massachusetts, arresting about 130 people. Since April 18, over 2,600 people have been arrested on 50 campuses in protests against the war. Other schools have allowed protests to continue, while some have cracked down due to disruptions and safety concerns [4c21dcd2].
The recent article from The Washington Post highlights the chaotic state of affairs in America, including college protests, the Trump trial, and ongoing wars. It mentions the largest campus protest movement of the 21st century, the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president, and restrictive abortion laws. The article also brings attention to two world-rattling wars with high death tolls that often go unnoticed amidst domestic crises [4589dd44].