Protests in Columbus, Israel rally against governing bodies

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Two Ohio State University students were arrested Tuesday evening when a group of 50-60 demonstrators became "disruptive" to university business, according to spokesperson Benjamin Johnson.

One of those students, Yousef Munir, spoke with NBC4 Wednesday afternoon.

"Even before the protest actually started, dozens upon dozens of cops are already there, surrounding us on every direction, along with more student life members than I've ever seen at any protest," he said.

Munir is a member of the Ohio Youth for Climate Justice organization. He said they chose to stand up for Palestine due to similar objectives of climate justice and Palestine liberation.

"We knew that fundamentally, if we wanted to fight for climate justice, that meant we had to really support the fight for Palestinian liberation," he said. "It ignores the social, political and economic aspects of the climate crisis. And so, for example, the bombs that are being dropped on Gaza right now have dropped tons and tons and tons of emissions.”

Munir's recollection of the protest at Meiling Hall on campus was that the group was gathered peacefully, chanting at times.

"I personally received no warnings beforehand,” he said. “They gave warnings to some other people about other things. And then I relayed this and then they said, ‘Stop chanting,’ and I didn't chant. And then they arrested me without any warning.”

The university claims Munir and one other student were continually disruptive when asked to stop due to the loud noise created.

"These newly created arbitrary rules about what counts for too much sound and what counts as amplified sound and what lines we're not allowed to cross, which we complied with, and still, I spent the night in jail," Munir said.

Ohio State University held a news conference for local media Wednesday afternoon to address their policy on demonstrations and why two students were arrested.

Munir said he doesn't buy their story and believes the university is singling out people to send a message.

"They can keep trying to single individuals out and everyone else is going to keep fighting,” he said. “There's another protest tomorrow and nobody is slowing down. If they suppress one of us, thousands more will rise up.”

Meanwhile, halfway around the world, a couple who lived in Columbus for nearly 40 years is engaged in their own protest. Jack Chomsky and Susan Gellman now reside in Tel Aviv, Israel. They visit what is now called “Hostage Square” every week. Thousands of protestors are calling for their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring home all the Israeli hostages who remain in custody of Hamas after the Oct. 7 attack.

"It is complicated and people here are aware of and do care about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” Gellman said. “You have to remember that it's a complex situation to everyone here knows someone who has a family member who is a hostage in Gaza right now. Everyone knows someone who does. So we see it through that lens as well.”

"It's important that people understand that many or most people really are concerned compassionately about the people who are suffering so badly," Chomsky added.

They both have been protesting the Israeli government for months.

"They don't want to end the war. They don't care about bringing the hostage's home. They certainly don't care about ending the occupation. They are trying to spin the wheels and play for time for various reasons," Gellman said.

The freedom of Palestine is something Chomsky and Gellman believe is possible. They both believe there is a way to coexist.

"I'm a believer that we have the capacity to have an Israel and Palestine in this neighborhood. But the people who are interested in developing that project are not generally leading in either group of people," Chomsky said.

Different protests on opposite sides of the earth are uniquely intertwined, seeking both peace and freedom.

"If the hostages were released, things would be different in Gaza,” Gellman said. “We're all sad here. I mean, we're still grieving here. It's a very difficult and complicated time. And we're hoping that that something good will come from it.”