Campus Gaza rallies may subside, but experts see possible ‘hot summer of protest’
About a dozen students were arrested during a sit-in at a Denver college campus, but emerged from detainment to cheers from fellow pro-Palestinian protesters. The protesters are demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, university divestment from companies profiting from the war, and amnesty for disciplined or fired protesters. Academics believe that maintaining the energy of the movement once students leave campus will be a challenge, but the protests have spread across the country and to smaller universities, showing staying power. The movement may evolve or fade away, but students in Denver are committed to continuing their protests until their demands are met, even through summer break and into the fall. Police responses to protests have ignited a sense of activism in a new generation of students, and there are expectations for a summer of protest leading up to the presidential election. Michael Heaney, a lecturer in politics, believes that the protests are just one tactic in a wider movement and that they could grow if Israel’s offensive in Gaza continues. Despite the potential for the campus to become a ghost town after graduation, student protesters in Denver are determined to continue their encampment.
