For more than two weeks, American universities have been witnessing a pro-Palestinian and anti-war mobilization in response to the situation in Gaza. Harvard University historian Julie Rubin, who has studied student activism, sees similarities between these protests and past movements in the United States. She notes that the deep divisions over Gaza and the use of police by some universities to intervene on their campuses remind her of the student demonstrations protesting the Vietnam War in the sixties and seventies.
During the sixties, the United States experienced a surge in student demonstrations on various issues, including civil rights, student rights, freedoms, and opposition to the Vietnam War. This was a unique period of intense activism on college campuses that lasted for six years. While demonstrations have continued over the years, they have not reached the same level of intensity as the sixties.
The current protests demanding universities to cut ties with companies or donors linked to Israel echo similar calls to end funding for South Africa during the apartheid regime. Like the Vietnam War protests, the situation in Gaza has sparked strong emotional divisions among students and the wider community, similar to the controversies of the past.
Despite differences in the scale of demonstrations, the speed at which the current movement has spread to multiple universities is notable. While university administrators in the sixties initially reacted harshly to student protests, later they learned that allowing demonstrations to happen could lead to a quicker resolution. Today, some universities calling for police intervention in response to protests stands in contrast to past practices where administrative responses were less severe.
Overall, the current student demonstrations regarding Gaza have parallels to past movements in the United States, particularly those related to emotionally charged and divisive issues like the Vietnam War. The response from universities and the wider community reflects ongoing debates about the role of activism on college campuses and the use of police intervention to address protests.