There has been a wave of student demonstrations in the United States since last week. Protesters from various institutions such as Columbia University in New York and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are calling for universities to sever all ties with the Israeli government following attacks in Gaza. Many students from public and private universities have been arrested for participating in these protests.
On Tuesday evening, New York City police entered Hamilton Hall, a Columbia building symbolic of the protests, where more than 200 protesters were arrested. Similar actions took place at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Texas. Columbia has become the epicenter of university protests in the US against the war in Gaza.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams stated that those occupying Hamilton Hall were not enrolled at Columbia but were outside agitators. Politicians from both parties condemned these protests, and President Biden labeled some slogans and tactics used by protesters as anti-Semitic and violent. At least 34 University of Wisconsin students were detained during their standoff with police while similar clashes occurred at UCLA.
Former President Trump praised the actions of New York police against protesters at Columbia while Texas Governor Greg Abbott emphasized that encampments would not be allowed on educational institutions.
The escalation of these protests highlights deep divisions and tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within American universities.