Monday, May 13

Students Face Police Action During Anti-Gaza War Demonstrations In US Universities

Edited by Uzma Parveen
Students Face Police Action During Anti-Gaza War Demonstrations In US Universities

Massive protests have erupted on streets all across the globe against Israel’s killing of civilians in Gaza. Now these protests have entered into educational institutions in the US, Europe, and Australia. In US university campuses are witnessing students protesting to demand a ceasefire in Israel’s war with Hamas as the Palestinian death toll has risen over 34,000. Protestors are demanding universities to cut their investments in everything linked to Israel that fuels the war in Gaza.

Since the anti-Gaza war demonstration erupted in the universities police have arrested over 550 protesters with the authorization of the administration. Videos are emerging from different universities all across the US showing hundreds of students along with faculties being forcefully arrested. Law enforcement officials are deploying tasers and tear gas against peaceful student protestors at Atlanta’s Emory University. Reportedly, Atlanta police and Georgia troopers are conducting a joint operation to dismantle the student camps and tents.
Emory University economics professor Caroline Fohlin knocked to the ground in one of the videos circulating on social media.

Some universities were forced to cancel their graduation ceremonies while others have seen their entire buildings occupied by students demonstrating against the anti-Gaza war.

The City University of New York (CUNY) has seen hundreds of students camping with banners written with “No More Investment in Apartheid”. However, the school responded by not having any affiliation with the protesters and called them “anti-Semitic”. It posted a statement on social media X, “We cannot tolerate this kind of hate on our campus.

Students are not alone in these protests, even faculty members are participating equally in the pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the university campuses. American political activist and academician Angela Davis applauded students protesting throughout the US.


Student’s Federation of India (SFI) also showed support with the US students protesting Israel’s occupation of Palestine and oppression of its people.

These protests are not limited to the US universities, they have been spread to the other parts of the world. In Berlin, activists set up a camp in front of the parliament demanding the government stop exporting arms to Israel. In Paris, protesters blockaded the central campus building of Sciences Po University forcing classes to be held online. In Sweden also people marched on streets to chant “Free Palestine” and “Boycott Israel”.

Prestigious US universities including New York University, Yale University, US Midwest and West Coast, and Columbia University, have joined in the protests. In response to this, universities have started to conduct online classes. Whereas Harvard University has restricted access to its campus in response to ongoing protests.
US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez showed solidarity with protesting students. She visited the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at Columbia University, and rejected the University’s decision to arrest them.