Demonstrations echoed throughout college campuses in the United States amidst escalating tensions over Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The evening saw numerous arrests in New York and a violent confrontation by counter-protesters in California, as per Al Jazeera’s report.
In New York City, the NYPD confirmed around 282 arrests at Columbia University and the City College of New York, spanning from Tuesday night to Wednesday morning. This crackdown occurred as law enforcement cleared students who had been occupying Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall since April 30.
Hamilton Hall, once a symbol of activism during South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, was renamed “Hind’s Hall” in memory of six-year-old Hind Rajab, tragically killed with her family by Israeli forces in Gaza.
A student journalist at Columbia University, Meghnad Bose, described witnessing the police intervention firsthand. “I saw how the police dispersed the protests, made arrests, and at times, used aggressive tactics to ensure the protesters left,” he stated, according to Al Jazeera.
Kaz Daughtry, the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of operations, mentioned in a statement on X, that Columbia University had requested police assistance to regain control of their campus. He explained that the police were tasked with “dispersing the unlawful encampment and individuals barricaded inside university buildings to restore order”.
Meanwhile, at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), tensions rose as pro-Israel counter-protesters clashed with pro-Palestine demonstrators. Witnesses reported the assailants’ attempts to dismantle the pro-Palestine encampment, resorting to violence by throwing objects and using sticks.
Sergio Olmos, an investigative journalist covering the events at UCLA, observed the chaotic situation as counter-protesters engaged in aggressive actions. He detailed their efforts to dismantle the pro-Palestine encampment, which included throwing glass bottles and wielding sticks.
The Los Angeles Police Department was called upon by UCLA to address the escalating violence at the university, responding to multiple incidents of aggression within the encampment. Despite the challenges, the pro-Palestine encampment at UCLA remained steadfast, as student protesters stood their ground against the attacks. Rob Reynolds, reporting from Los Angeles, emphasized the resilience of the demonstrators in the face of adversity. The increase in protests on US campuses was fueled by heightened tensions following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel on October 7 and the prolonged Israeli military campaign in Gaza, resulting in significant Palestinian casualties, as documented by Al Jazeera. The recent wave of demonstrations began gaining momentum almost two weeks earlier, triggered by Columbia University President Minouche Shafik’s controversial testimony before a US congressional committee. Critics accused Shafik of prioritizing lawmakers’ interests over those of the university’s students. Among a variety of demands, protesters called for divestment from Israel and companies linked to the conflict. They criticized administrators for allegedly exploiting public safety concerns and using accusations of anti-Semitism to stifle dissent. The wave of arrests was not limited to New York, with 14 protesters detained at Tulane University in New Orleans, in addition to arrests at the University of South Florida and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory, expressed her disapproval of the violent police response at US universities, which gained international attention. She characterized these actions as a reflection of a dystopian reality and called for an immediate halt to the ongoing genocide. Meanwhile, Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles strongly condemned the violence that occurred at UCLA, considering it both abhorrent and inexcusable. On the other hand, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City defended the police crackdown, stating that the protests at Columbia University were instigated by individuals unaffiliated with the institution. Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) criticized both the NYPD and Columbia University for their handling of the situation. Stefanie Fox, the executive director of the group, drew parallels between the university’s current actions and its historical suppression of student activism during the Vietnam War and South African apartheid era.
