Demonstrators on US university campuses are demanding a ceasefire in Gaza, as tensions from protests against the war in Gaza have escalated on college campuses across the United States. The protesters are expressing their opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and showing their support for the Palestinians. They are calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, for universities to sever financial ties with Israel, and for the United States to stop supporting Israel.
Demonstrations have taken place on various university campuses in states like Texas, California, and New York. These protests began at Columbia University in New York and have spread to other campuses across the country. Over 1,600 arrests have been made since April 18 in connection with these protests, as demonstrators have occupied campus buildings and refused to leave. Police have intervened on campuses like Columbia University and City College of New York, leading to the arrest of hundreds of protesters.
These protests have caused disruptions to university operations, with some schools canceling classroom teaching due to the presence of protestors on campus. The demonstrations have become a political controversy, with Republican politicians like Donald Trump calling on President Joe Biden to take action against the protestors. Criticisms of the demonstrations as anti-Semitic have emerged, resulting in some Jewish students and teachers feeling unsafe on campus. However, there are also Jewish demonstrators who believe the protests are valid criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The scale of these protests on college campuses is being compared to student movements of the past, such as those in the 1960s and 1980s against the Vietnam War and apartheid. While these demonstrations have not reached the same level as those movements, they represent a significant student activism movement in the 21st century. Despite criticisms and controversies surrounding the protests, demonstrators continue to express their concerns and demand action on the ongoing war in Gaza.