Middle East conflict leads to violent protests in various US colleges

Police were called to a number of US colleges on Wednesday amid a wave of pro-Palestinian student protests. Some media outlets have labelled these as anti-semitic.

Protests at times turned violent between pro-Palestinian protesters and Israel supporters at various campuses across the US overnight.

Around 300 people were taken into police custody at Columbia University and City College in New York, while clashes between rival groups of protesters broke out in Los Angeles.

Columbia University student journalist Meghnad Bose told Al Jazeera he was inside the university gates when he witnessed the police “arresting pro-Palestinian protesters who had lined up right [in front of] the gates to prevent the NYPD from coming in”.

“I saw firsthand how the police dispersed those protests, arrested them and sometimes got pretty aggressive in making sure the protesters went away,” he said.

CNN reports that :

• University of Arizona: Police deployed “chemical irritant munitions” and urged residents to avoid the area as protests continue on campus, according to posts on X by the university’s police department.

• University of Wisconsin-Madison: At least 12 people were arrested as police moved in, tearing down tents at the encampment on this campus. According to the university, the encampment at the Madison campus violates school policy and a state law. Tents appear to be back up again, as police left the premises.

• Tulane University: Some classes scheduled on Wednesday at Tulane University in New Orleans will be conducted remotely as “the unlawful demonstration continues” on campus, according to a statement from university officials. The university added that 14 people were arrested at the campus, and the encampment there has now been removed. 

• Cal Poly Humboldt: California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, in Arcata announced it will hold a modified in-person commencement on May 11 after law enforcement regained control of two buildings early Tuesday following a multi-day occupation that prompted a campus lockdown.

• University of South Florida: Police and supporting law enforcement agencies dispersed an on-campus protest Tuesday, with 10 people taken into custody.

• University of Georgia: The University of Georgia Police Department arrested 16 people during a pro-Palestine protest on Monday, according to a police report. The majority of those arrested were students, with nine students taken into custody and seven people listed as visitors, according to the report. All 16 were charged with criminal trespassing, the report said.

Photo – https://twitter.com/PatriotPointman