Why are US college students being arrested for Palestine protests?

Across the United States, universities have become focal points for demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war.

Today, students at Columbia University in New York barricaded a building on campus – further fuelling tensions as they demand their university divests financially from Israel.

While many of the protests against the war by students have been peaceful, some have descended into chaos.

Riot police pepper sprayed students at the University of Texas and arrested dozens, as Texas state governor Greg Abbott said ‘no encampments will be allowed’.

The demonstrations have been ongoing for months as students attempt to stop university support for Israel, and oppose US funding for Israeli weapons.

But others have said these protests are reminiscent of the Vietnam War protests – which erupted in the early 1970s – and led to the end of combat operations in Vietnam and a suspension of the draft. Could these have a similar effect?

When did the protests start, and where are they happening?

Protests have been a regular occurrence at American universities since the start of the war on October 7 – but became more widespread this past month.

The protests became more intense when the New York City Police Department entered the student encampment at Columbia University to conduct mass arrests on April 17.

On April 22, more universities across the east coast – New York University, Emerson College, MIT, Yale and Tufts – began encampment protests in response to the arrests of other students at Columbia.

Emerson College, the University of Southern California, The University of North Carolina and the University of Texas have all seen massive crackdowns on their own student demonstrations.

They’ve also spread overseas – students in Paris were dragged away in handcuffs during a demonstration this past week.

What are the protesters demanding?

The reasons behind the protest vary slightly, but overall agree that the US should end military support to Israel.

Some university students, such as those at Columbia, are demanding their schools sever any financial ties to Israel and other companies involved directly in the conflict.

Mass arrests have led to calls for amnesty of students and faculty who are disciplined for their involvement in the protests.

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Have there been counter protests?

Yes. Counter protestors have been filmed approaching pro-Palestine students outside of Columbia University.

Instances of anti-Semitism have been reported in some of the protests across global universities.

One Columbia student, Kymani James, was barred from campus after a video surfaced of him saying ‘Zionists don’t deserve to live.’

Pro-Israel rallies have been held nearby the encampment at Columbia University, with hundreds of people waving flags and chanting for hostages to be arrested.

Pro-Israel demonstrator Leat Corinne Unger told CBS: ‘My cousin is being held hostage in Gaza for 203 daysIt’s unbearable, if I’m honest, but I tell myself that if it’s unbearable for me, what is it for him?’

Why are students being arrested?

As universities look to prevent some demonstrations from progressing due to ‘disturbance’ to the university, some protestors have been arrested.

Reasons for this vary – some were charged with criminal trespass for camping overnight on campus.

Others were disciplined by their universities, given either a suspension, probation period, and in some cases, students were expelled.

And it’s not just students – an Emory University economics professor was charged with battery after video appeared to show her being forcefully arrested during a protest.

Are these similar to the Vietnam War protests?

Comparisons have been drawn to the mass anti-war protests in 1968, which began in Columbia University as well.

But statistics show that the two events have been handled very differently.

In 1968, there were 300 protestors on the first day – in 2024, it was just over 100 at Columbia University.

Police were called on the seventh day of the 1968 protests. This year, they were called after just two days.

Accusations of anti-Semitism have also fed into the protests – which have seen a mix of pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrators clash.

Today, students at Columbia University barricaded Hamilton Hall and renamed it Hind Hall, after a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who died while under Israeli bombardment.

In a statement, the students said taking over the building was the ‘next generation’ of previous movements at Columbia University, such as the Vietnam War protests.

Despite these actions, Columbia University President Minouche Shafik has said ‘the university will not divest from Israel’ – but has offered a timeline to review proposals from the students.

But protests are raging on – this morning, police arrested 30 pro-Palestinian protestors at the University of North Carolina.

A letter was given to demonstrators in the encampment from UNC interim Chancellor Lee Roberts and Provost Christopher Clemens, reading: ‘Failure to follow this order to disperse will result in consequences including possible arrest, suspension from campus and, ultimately, expulsion from the university, which may prevent students from graduating.’

The students were still arrested by officers in riot gear, while chanting ‘I don’t see no riot here. Why are you in riot gear?’

At the Paris Institute of Political Studies, French students barricaded themselves in a campus building.

Hicham, a master’s student there, said: ‘Since October, we have been doing a lot. And when we see that other universities abroad are following, they have responded to us so we want to respond to them too.

‘Universities really have a role to play in what’s happening in Palestine and the genocide which is underway.’

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