Austin, Texas – Police clashes with student demonstrators have erupted in the U.S. states of Texas and California, while new encampments have sprung up at Harvard and other colleges. As school leaders grapple with ways to defuse the growing wave of pro-Palestinian protests, it is evident that the issue at hand has sparked intense emotions and sparked a debate on free speech and safety on college campuses.
The University of Texas at Austin saw a tense standoff between protesters and law enforcement, with hundreds of local and state police – some on horseback and wielding batons – forcefully pushing demonstrators off the campus lawn. At least 20 protesters were arrested at the request of university officials and Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
In the midst of the chaos, a photographer from Fox 7 Austin and a longtime Texas journalist were caught in the crossfire and sustained injuries. The situation also escalated at the University of Southern California, where police engaged in a back-and-forth tugging match with protesters over tents. Meanwhile, at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, students have been barricaded inside a building for three days as the school shut down campus and moved classes online.
Harvard University had attempted to preempt protests by limiting access to Harvard Yard and requiring permission for tents and tables. However, this did not stop protesters from setting up a camp with 14 tents on Wednesday, following a rally against the university’s suspension of the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee.
The student protests, which have been ongoing for weeks, demand that schools cut financial ties with Israel and divest from companies supporting the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The demonstrations have led to dozens of arrests on charges of trespassing or disorderly conduct, with some students claiming that the protests have veered into anti-Semitism and made them fearful to be on campus.
Columbia University managed to avoid a confrontation between protesters and police on Wednesday, as campus officials continue to hold talks with demonstrators. However, the situation remains tense, with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, calling on the university’s president to resign if she cannot bring order to the chaos.
In response, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik set a deadline for midnight on Tuesday for an agreement to clear an encampment, but negotiations have been extended for another 48 hours as the school claims to be making “important progress.”
In the midst of these developments, there were rumors that the university had threatened to bring in the National Guard, but a Columbia spokesperson clarified that their focus is to restore order and that they will continue to seek a resolution through dialogue.
The Columbia encampment has also inspired similar protests at other universities, with students setting up tents in solidarity with their peers. However, the initial attempt by police to clear the encampment last week backfired, serving as a source of motivation for other students to join the cause and for protesters at Columbia to regroup.
Currently, about 60 tents remain at the Columbia encampment, which appears to be peaceful. Security around campus remains tight, with identification required and police setting up metal barricades. In an effort to maintain a safe and inclusive environment, Columbia has agreed with protest representatives that only students will be allowed to stay at the encampment and that discriminatory or harassing language will not be tolerated.
At the University of Minnesota, a few dozen students rallied after nine protesters were arrested when police took down an encampment in front of the library. U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar, whose daughter was among the demonstrators arrested at Columbia last week, also attended a protest later in the day.
In a show of support, more than 80 professors and assistant professors signed a letter calling on the university’s president and other administrators to drop any charges and allow for future encampments without fear of police retaliation. They expressed their horror at the violation of students’ rights to freely speak out against genocide and the ongoing occupation of Palestine.
In a video statement released on Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on U.S. college campuses, criticizing the response of several university presidents as “shameful” and calling on state, local, and federal officials to intervene.
As the protests continue, some students have chosen to hide their identities and are afraid to speak out for fear of retribution. At the encampment at the University of Michigan, almost every student wears a mask, which is handed to them upon entry. This outpouring
