From Los Angeles to New York, protests in support of Palestine are gaining momentum on college campuses across the United States. Despite efforts by university leaders and law enforcement to disperse the demonstrations, students remain steadfast in their commitment to occupying school grounds.
The protests, which originated at Columbia University in New York, have now spread to universities nationwide. Demonstrators are calling for universities to sever financial ties with Israel and divest from companies they believe are supporting Israel’s military actions in Gaza, where a conflict has resulted in thousands of casualties.
As tensions escalate, law enforcement has intervened to remove protesters, resulting in hundreds of arrests at various universities. Additionally, faculty members at universities in California, Georgia, and Texas have initiated symbolic votes of no confidence in their leadership.
The situation has added pressure on school officials, especially with graduation ceremonies approaching next month. College campuses across the country are experiencing heightened activism as students continue to voice their opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Recent events include the arrest of at least 50 protesters at the University of Texas at Austin and nearly 100 arrests at the University of Southern California. Police action has also been threatened at Harvard and Brown universities, where students have established encampments in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
According to reports, protests are ongoing at approximately 30 university campuses nationwide, including prestigious institutions such as Stanford University, Yale University, Princeton University, and MIT. The situation remains fluid as demonstrations persist and authorities grapple with how to manage the growing unrest.