Police have been cracking down on demonstrations against Israel's war with Hamas on college campuses across the United States. At Emory University in Atlanta, police broke up a protest where several dozen protesters set up tents on the quad. The initial group of protesters was not associated with the university, but some members of the Emory community joined in. Protesters chanted slogans supporting Palestinians and opposing a public safety training center being built in Atlanta. When the school's police department told the group they were trespassing, around two dozen people were taken into custody.
At Emerson College in Boston, chaos erupted as police tried to break up a pro-Palestinian alleyway camp. Police arrested 108 people and four officers suffered minor injuries. Video footage showed police forcefully moving through the crowd and using umbrellas to resist officers. Students were charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct.
The University of Texas at Austin saw aggressive police action against protesters, resulting in 57 people being arrested and charged with criminal trespass. At California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, students barricaded themselves inside a building for a third day. Meanwhile, at USC, 93 people were arrested for trespassing during a protest, and the university canceled a planned commencement speech by the pro-Palestinian valedictorian due to safety concerns.
Columbia University in New York continued to negotiate with students after over 100 arrests, while Harvard University limited access to Harvard Yard to prevent protests. Some Jewish students have expressed concerns about the protests veering into antisemitism. The demonstrations are demanding schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies enabling the conflict.
The tensions on campuses have escalated, with some universities calling in police to end protests, resulting in scuffles and dozens of arrests. The final days of the semester are approaching, and graduation ceremonies are looming, adding pressure to resolve the protests. As the situation continues to unfold, universities are grappling with how to handle the growing discontent among students.
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