Across the United States, pro-Palestinian protests have been gaining momentum, mirroring the demonstrations of the 1960s against the Vietnam War. In just one week, starting from April 18th, over 400 arrests have been made at various universities. The first wave of protests began at Columbia University in New York, where around 100 young people gathered to demonstrate. Since then, the movement has spread to other campuses across the country, including California, Georgia, Boston and Florida.
Police have been confronting demonstrators and making arrests at several universities, including Emerson College in Atlanta, the University of Southern California, the University of Texas at Austin and in Washington DC at Georgetown and George Washington University. The protests have resulted in a range of actions, from encampments and sit-ins to demonstrations. Students on these campuses are demanding that universities sever ties with companies that do business with Israel.
The ongoing protests have seen a number of high-profile individuals showing their support. In Atlanta, Noelle McAfee, chair of the philosophy department at Emory University was handcuffed and escorted off campus by an officer. Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota also showed up at Columbia University to support the protesters. Her daughter Isra Hirsi was among the group of pro-Palestinian protesters who were cleared from the university by police last week.
These protests reflect a growing awareness among young people about the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine. They are calling for action and are determined to see change happen on their campuses and beyond. The movement is likely to continue well into the future as students continue to demand justice for Palestine.
