Earlier this month, the United States of America got a taste of the nuisance caused by gratuitous protests as a large number of students across university campuses took to streets in support of Hamas and Palestine and against Israel war against the October 7 terror attack. A video of a professor being decked to the ground by an US police officer during one such protest was has gone viral on social media.
In the video, a lady and professor at the Emory University of Atlanta expressed outrage over police action against protestors on campus. Subsequently, a police officer twists her hand decks her close to the ground and handcuffed her even as the lady identifies herself as a professor working in the university.
According to the report, the Atlanta police detained the professor, identified as Fohlin for over 11 hours and charged her with Battery Against Police Officer. Numerous students are staging protests across campus in US including prestigious institutions like Columbia University, University of Yale, University of Illinois etc. Their demands include ceasefire in the Israel Hamas War, an end to military aid for Israel and as well as end to the ongoing genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza.
However, pro-Israeli supporters express concern over campus safety and have alleged that these protests ae anti-Semitism, intimidation and hate speech. Columbia University vice president of public affairs Ben Chang emphasised that students have the right to protest, but they shouldn’t disrupt campus life and or engage in harassment and intimidation.
The pro-Palestine protestors come from diverse backgrounds, including Jewish and Muslim faiths and are organised by Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish voice for peace. At Berkeley, for instance have set up approximately 15 tents, accompanied by teach-ins, interfaith prayers, and musical performances with organisers disavowing violence against pro-Israel counter-protests.
Key protest sites like the Columbia University, Harvard, Yale, MIT and NYU have witnessed several demonstrations. At the Columbia University, over 100 pro-Palestine demonstrators were arrested, with the university emphasising virtual classes. Harvard suspended the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee due to violations of university policy.
At Yale, the approximately 45 protesters were arrested for misdemeanour trespassing and at MIT students demanded a ceasefire criticizing the schools alleged complicity in the Gaza conflict. At the NYU, an encampment faced police intervention due to disorderly conduct and reports of anti-Semitic incidents.
The impacts of these protests extend beyond the campus. California University of Polytechnic, Humboldt cancelled in person classes temporarily after the students barricaded themselves demanding disclosure of ties with Israel. Similarly, the University of Michigan emphasised allowing free expression and peaceful protests at the graduation ceremonies while preventing substantial disruption.
