Protests by American college students opposing Israel and supporting Palestine are spreading throughout the United States. As more and more students are being arrested on university campuses for disobeying police orders to disperse, clashes appear to be intensifying, with students gathering in various parts of universities setting up tents and mounted police taking action to suppress them.
On the 24th, when students held an illegal occupation protest at the University of South Texas at Austin, Texas state police, including the cavalry, entered the campus and dispersed the protesters. In this process, about 20 students were arrested.
Dozens of students protesting at the University of Southern California in Western California were arrested. Controversy recently arose at this university when a Muslim graduate named Asta Tabassum had his graduation speech canceled after receiving protests on social media for supporting Palestine. In addition, protests are taking place in cities such as Pittsburgh and San Antonio, and the ‘anti-Israel’ movement is spreading throughout the United States. The Washington Post (WP) reported, “This is the first protest like this since the summer of 2020 (when a large-scale black human rights movement took place immediately after the death of black man George Floyd due to excessive police suppression).” They are arguing that the university should withdraw its investments from companies involved in Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip.
The protest was sparked after about 100 students camping at Columbia University were arrested by police on the 18th. Dozens of tents have been erected on this university campus, serving as a focal point for nationwide protests. Meanwhile, on the 24th, Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson visited Columbia University and demanded the president’s resignation. “Columbia University President Nemat Shafiq is a very weak and incompetent leader,” he said, adding, “If he cannot control this situation, he should resign immediately.” Johnson added fuel to the student protests by saying that Congress should consider revoking federal funding if universities are unable to control the protests. At Harvard University in eastern Boston, hundreds of students protested against the school’s decision to suspend the activities of a Palestinian support group on campus.
There are concerns in the political world that confusion may increase ahead of the November presidential election. The Wall Street Journal said, “The Democratic Party is preparing for large-scale protests to be held at the national convention held from August 19th to 22nd.”
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