More colleges on Friday joined in the coast-to-coast protest fray over Israel’s war in Gaza, with some university leaders cracking down on demonstrations with armed police while civil rights groups armed students with legal advice and court challenges.
At Columbia University, students were still on the campus’ various lawns following a rumored midnight deadline to clear the encampments. The Ivy League school has been the epicenter of student protests for over a week, especially after the university’s president, Minouche Shafik, called in the New York City Police Department and more than 100 students were arrested last Thursday.
Since then, hundreds of students have set up similar encampments from California to Massachusetts, leading to a national debate over free speech on college campuses as some Jewish students and administrators say the demonstrations have at times been sites of antisemitism.
The student protesters have called on universities to cut financial ties to Israel and Israeli companies, especially those benefitting from the ongoing war in Gaza. While the demonstrations have not led to any divestments, the week of protests have had broad impacts, forcing classes to move online and disrupting graduation plans.
Hundreds of protesters have been arrested over the last week, including dozens on Thursday when law enforcement in riot gear broke up a peaceful demonstration at the University of Ohio. Arrests also occurred the same day at Indiana University and the University of Minnesota.