Pro-Palestine Demonstrations at Other Renowned US Universities Following Columbia

Despite the suspension of three students and the arrest of 108 last week, pro-Palestine encampments at Columbia University in the US are still active. The raid has only served to inflame discontent, rather than quell it, as the police’s sweep of the encampments had intended.
In a similar vein, students at a number of other US campuses have camped out, taken over facilities, and staged demonstrations.

Notable universities such as Yale, MIT, and NYU have been unsuccessfully attempting to quell student demonstrations calling for divestment from Israel and an end to the conflict in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian protests have also been taking on at other colleges and institutions, including Michigan and UC Berkeley.

Students’ refusal to comply with requests that they evacuate their encampments has kept tensions high at Columbia University. There has been no progress in the administration’s and demonstrators’ attempts to negotiate an agreement.

Consequently, officials have stated that lessons would be held in a hybrid format until the conclusion of the Spring semester, which concludes next week.

Pro-Palestine student movements have emerged throughout the country as a result of these demonstrations.

The police were assigned the responsibility of clearing the encampments at New York University, and 133 protestors were arrested when they reportedly hurled bottles at them. They are now free on a summons to appear in court for disorderly conduct charges.

Byul Yoon, a law student at New York University, describes the arrests as “outrageous” and wonders, “Why are we not allowed to be here?” in an agitated tone. For what reason is it that we are unable to voice our opinions?

To reiterate the demands of the demonstrators, she said, “We’re here to maintain a presence and to demand that the university divest from weapons corporations and from the Israeli occupation.”

According to Quinn Perian, a student at MIT, the school has received more than $11 million in funding for programs associated with the Israeli Ministry of Defense over the last ten years, which has led her to investigate the institution’s role in the current bloodshed in Gaza. MIT produces the weaponry that the Israeli government and military use to intimidate and attack the Gaza Strip’s Palestinian population.

Protest organizer and UC Berkeley student Malak Afaneh said, “Quite frankly, we’re going to be here until we achieve divestment,” echoing the demonstrators’ determination. Even if it means suspension, we’re OK with it. Expulsion is something we’re prepared to risk. It’s possible that we may face arrest if we keep quiet.

Protesters at Yale University refused to meet with administration officials who urged them to disband their camps, cease their protests, and meet with the university’s board. Despite repeated warnings, the government finally gave the go-ahead for police to remove camps. There were about sixty demonstrators apprehended; forty-seven of them were students.

In addition, the renowned Harvard Yard had most of its gates locked and entry restricted to anyone with school ID as a preventative precaution. There are signs that say you can’t put up tents or tables anywhere without someone’s permission. But this has not stopped the establishment of encampments and the continuation of demonstrations.

‘Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee’ was subsequently suspended for policy violations.

Protests are not likely to be ignored any time soon. As more and more people get disillusioned and join the pro-Palestinian movement in response to attempts to quell protests, resistance is on the rise.