Protests against the ongoing conflict in Gaza have been escalating on college campuses across the United States, with demonstrators calling for a ceasefire and severing financial ties with Israel. 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, as protesters occupied campus buildings and refused to leave.
The demonstrations have caused disruptions to university operations, with some schools canceling classroom teaching due to the presence of protestors on campus. The protests have become a political controversy, with criticism emerging that they are anti-Semitic and may make Jewish students and teachers feel unsafe on campus. However, there are also Jewish demonstrators who believe the protests are valid criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
These protests represent a significant student activism movement in the 21st century, drawing parallels to student movements of the past such as those against the Vietnam War and apartheid. While these demonstrations have not reached the same level as those movements, they continue to express concerns about the ongoing war in Gaza and demand action from universities and governments alike.
