US President Joe Biden has urged pro-Palestinian protesters on university campuses to uphold the rule of law amidst a wave of student unrest. In his first direct remarks about the situation, Biden emphasized the importance of maintaining order in civil society.
Police have detained over 2,000 people nationwide in the past two weeks at college rallies and protest camps, including 209 arrests at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Riot police in gear cleared UCLA’s main campus, setting off flash bangs and flares, loading demonstrators onto buses, and tearing down makeshift barriers and tents.
The campus protests in support of Gaza have spread to nearly 140 colleges in at least 45 states and six other countries. Demonstrators are calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and demanding academic institutions divest financially from Israel and companies profiting from the conflict.
However, tensions have escalated with reports of violence erupting on some campuses and rising instances of antisemitic harassment against Jewish students. At UCLA, a masked pro-Israeli group attacked pro-Palestinian campers with bats and tear gas, leading to a police response criticized for being slow.
As the situation unfolds, the debate between the right to protest and the need to maintain order continues. The clashes at UCLA highlight the complex dynamics at play in the ongoing protests, with both sides advocating for their beliefs amidst escalating tensions.