In recent weeks, protests against the war in Gaza have intensified across multiple top universities in the United States, with officials taking measures to defuse the situation. The demonstrations, which have been ongoing since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, have sparked heated debates about the Israel-Gaza conflict and free speech.
As tensions rose, police stepped in at New York University on Monday night, arresting several protesters. Earlier that day, dozens of students had been arrested at Yale, while Columbia University cancelled in-person classes. Similar protests have emerged at other prominent colleges, including Berkeley, MIT, the University of Michigan, Emerson College, and Tufts.
Both sides of the conflict have reported a rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents, adding fuel to the already tense situation. President Joe Biden has condemned the “antisemitic protests” and those who do not understand the Palestinian perspective.
Last week, over 100 demonstrators were arrested at Columbia University, prompting the university to shift to virtual classes due to “intimidating and harassing behaviour.” Protesters at New York University set up tents, demanding the school disclose and divest from weapons manufacturers and companies linked to the Israeli occupation.
Yale University saw nearly 50 arrests, with authorities reporting hundreds of protesters, many refusing to leave. Protest encampments have also been established at other universities like MIT and the University of California at Berkeley.
However, the protests have not been without controversy. Authorities at New York University reported “intimidating chants and several antisemitic incidents.” Recent videos also appear to show some protesters near Columbia expressing support for the Hamas attack on Israel. Democratic Congresswoman Kathy Manning, who toured Columbia, said she saw protesters calling for Israel’s destruction, while the Hasidic group Chabad at Columbia University reported Jewish students were subjected to harmful rhetoric.
Protest groups deny antisemitism, arguing their criticism targets the Israeli state and its supporters. Columbia Students for Justice in Palestine rejected hate and bigotry, criticizing “inflammatory individuals” who do not represent them.
Columbia University President Dr Minouche Shafik created a working group to resolve the crisis, but federal lawmakers, including New York Republican Representative Elise Stefanik, urged her to step down for failing to address the situation. The protests drew attention from Democrat Representatives Kathy Manning, Jared Moskowitz, Josh Gottheimer, and Dan Goldman. Congressman Gottheimer warned Columbia would “pay the price” if Jewish students did not feel welcome and safe.
North Carolina Republican Virginia Foxx, chair of the House Education Committee, wrote that Columbia’s failure to restore order and safety constituted a breach of federal assistance obligations. Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and a prominent Columbia alumnus, threatened to stop supporting the university until corrective action was taken.
Some faculty members faulted Columbia for its handling of the protest and calling in the police. The Knight First Amendment Institute called for an “urgent course correction,” arguing university rules only allow outside authorities in cases of “clear and present danger.”
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been ongoing for years, with the October 7 attack killing about 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, mostly civilians, and taking 253 others hostage. Israel responded with an intense war in Gaza, aiming to destroy Hamas and free hostages. The conflict has killed over 34,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women.
In addition to the protests on university campuses, wider demonstrations have occurred across the United States, with pro-Palestinian protesters blocking major roads, and restricting access to airports and bridges. The situation remains tense, with officials and community leaders working to find a resolution that addresses the concerns of both sides.
