PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS: MASS ARREST OF STUDENTS AS CHAOS SWEEPS US UNIVERSITIES

The atmosphere on campuses across the United States continues to be charged as student protests over the Israel-Hamas war escalate, following significant incidents of arrest at major universities such as Harvard, Columbia, and NYU.

At Harvard University, the suspension of the Palestine Solidarity Committee has galvanized students, leading hundreds to gather and set up encampments in Harvard Yard, voicing their demands for the university to sever financial ties with Israel and divest from companies implicated in the ongoing conflict.

The protests have spread from coast to coast, with incidents at the University of Michigan to the University of California at Berkeley, highlighting a significant divide in student bodies and challenging university administrations to maintain order while respecting free speech. The demands of the protestors are not just limited to university divestments; they also include calls for the U.S. to end military aid to Israel.

Here are some latest developments:

• Arrests at USC and Texas: The University of Southern California saw a peaceful arrest of several students following a demonstration, contrasting sharply with the more chaotic scenes at the University of Texas at Austin, where police in riot gear detained protesters after a confrontation. At the University of Texas, a confrontation erupted between hundreds of local and state police officers, some mounted on horseback and wielding batons, and protesters. The officers forcibly removed demonstrators from the campus lawn, occasionally causing some to fall into the street.
• Columbia University tensions: At Columbia, negotiations have been extended by 48 hours in an attempt to resolve the standoff peacefully, following a tense week where over 100 students were arrested.
• Harvard's preemptive measures: Despite increased security measures including locking down Harvard Yard, protesters managed to set up 14 tents and continue their demonstration.
• US Speaker heckled: US House Speaker Mike Johnson, during a visit to Columbia, faced heckling from students as he criticized the university's handling of the protests and alleged antisemitism. Johnson, a Republican, called on Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to resign “if she cannot bring order to this chaos.” “If this is not contained quickly and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard,” he said.
• Cal Poly Humboldt lockdown: Students at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, remain barricaded inside a building, prompting the university to shift to virtual classes through the weekend.
• NYU and Yale arrests: New York University and Yale University saw significant police action, with NYU reporting 133 arrests and Yale over 40, as students set up encampments similar to those at Columbia.
• University of Minnesota rally: Following the arrest of protesters, including the daughter of US Rep. Ilhan Omar, the University of Minnesota saw continued demonstrations with calls for the university to drop all charges against the protesters.
• Academic response: More than 80 professors at the University of Minnesota signed a letter condemning the administration for violating students' rights to protest.
• Continued protests at other campuses: Students at Brown University, MIT, and other institutions continue to demonstrate, with each campus experiencing varying levels of police presence and administrative response.
• International attention: The ongoing campus protests have drawn attention beyond US borders, with discussions around the implications for international students and the global perception of US higher education institutions.