Student Protests Escalate On College Campuses Over Israel-Hamas Conflict

A pro-Palestinian protester walks past pro-Israel protesters at the University of Texas Wednesday April 24, 2024, in Austin. (Austin American-Statesman via AP)/Austin American-Statesman via AP)

Student protests over the Israel-Hamas war have escalated on numerous college campuses in the wake of the recent arrest of over 100 demonstrators at Columbia University. The protests have led to clashes with police at some universities, with one campus even closing for the remainder of the week.

Students are advocating for universities to disassociate from companies supporting Israel's military actions in Gaza and, in some instances, from Israel itself. These protests have been coordinated by coalitions of student groups, drawing inspiration from similar movements at other universities.

At Columbia University, pro-Palestinian student protesters established a tent encampment that resulted in the arrest of over 100 individuals. Despite initial attempts by police to disband the encampment, protesters regrouped, prompting university officials to extend a deadline for their removal.

Calls for universities to disassociate from companies supporting Israel

Protests at multiple universities over Israel-Hamas conflict

Protests coordinated by student groups inspired by similar movements

Arrests at Columbia University, University of Texas at Austin, and other campuses

Forceful arrests and closures at various universities

Preemptive measures taken by Harvard University

Occupations and arrests at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

Warnings issued at Emerson College in Boston

Large encampment and arrests at New York University

Protests at University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Yale University, and UC Berkeley

Meanwhile, at the University of Texas at Austin, a planned walkout and march led to the forceful arrest of over two dozen students and a news photographer. The university, backed by state authorities, emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards disruptions.

Similarly, the University of Southern California witnessed police arrests as they cleared the campus center, prompting the closure of the campus. At Ohio State University, two pro-Palestinian students were arrested for criminal trespassing during a protest.

Harvard University took preemptive measures by restricting access to its campus ahead of protests, while California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, faced student occupations resulting in arrests and campus closures.

Emerson College in Boston saw student protesters occupying a courtyard, leading to warnings from college officials about violations of city ordinances. At New York University, a large encampment resulted in the arrest of 133 protesters on disorderly conduct charges.

Protests also unfolded at the University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Yale University, and the University of California, Berkeley, with varying degrees of police intervention and student responses.