Protests advocating for Palestine escalated across multiple US universities, resulting in a significant number of arrests. Videos captured scenes of law enforcement intervention at the University of Texas and the University of Southern California, where state troopers and police attempted to disperse demonstrators.

The demonstrations, previously centered at Columbia University, have now expanded to include prestigious institutions like Harvard and Yale. At the University of Texas’s Austin campus, 34 students were apprehended following the arrival of approximately 100 state troopers and local authorities.

Similar confrontations unfolded at the University of Southern California, where police detained a Palestinian student organizer amidst clashes. Meanwhile, pro-Palestinian protesters at Harvard University set up encampments in response to access restrictions imposed by the university.

At the University of Texas, protesters demanded divestment from manufacturers supplying weapons to Israel amid the ongoing conflict with Gaza. The protest, initiated by the university’s Palestinian Solidarity Committee, attracted around 200 students and faced opposition from law enforcement and university officials.

At the University of Southern California, over 100 students erected tents and displayed banners, prompting clashes with campus security and subsequent intervention by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Harvard University witnessed a sizable turnout of protesters who erected tents as part of an “emergency rally” following the suspension of a student group. The university’s decision to limit access to its campus further fueled demonstrations.

Additionally, pro-Palestine protests were reported at Brown University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, California State Polytechnic University, and the University of Michigan.

The White House condemned the protests, denouncing rhetoric resembling that of terrorist organizations, especially in light of recent escalations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern over the protests, labeling them “horrific” and calling for unequivocal condemnation. Other developments included calls for the resignation of Columbia University’s president and criticism from US House Speaker Mike Johnson.

As tensions persist, universities grapple with the complexities of free speech, activism, and international conflicts on their campuses.

By : Kruthiga V S

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