Riot police have been called in to several college campuses across the United States as tensions escalate during protests related to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. The demonstrations have taken a violent turn, with clashes breaking out between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators.
At universities from New York to Dallas and Washington, DC, protesters are demanding that schools cut financial ties with Israel and grant amnesty to students for rule-breaking. The confrontations have garnered both criticism and support from politicians, faculty members, and wealthy donors.
Administrators are feeling the pressure as graduation approaches, and their responses have varied from strict enforcement to a more hands-off approach. Here’s a look at the latest developments at several institutions:
– Fordham University: Protesters at the Lincoln Center campus were arrested for trespassing after setting up tents.
– California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt: Police arrested about 35 people, including students and professors, who had taken over buildings.
– University of California at Los Angeles: Classes were suspended after unrest at a pro-Palestinian encampment.
– City College of New York: More than 160 people were arrested as police cleared an encampment.
– Columbia University: Police arrested over 100 demonstrators who had barricaded themselves in a building.
– Tufts University: President Sunil Kumar was set to meet with protesters after issuing a “no trespass order.”
– Yale University: Police evacuated a protest site without arrests.
– Brown University: Protesters agreed to dismantle their encampment after reaching a deal with the administration.
– Princeton University: Thirteen people were arrested after students took over a building.
– George Washington University: Lawmakers visited the campus to address the demonstrations.
– University of Texas – Dallas: More than a dozen protesters were arrested after an encampment was broken up.
– Harvard University: Administrators have not cleared out an encampment but have threatened sanctions and restricted access.
The situation remains tense as protests continue on college campuses across the country.