Scores of graduating students staged a walkout from Yale University’s commencement exercises on Monday, protesting the Israeli war in Gaza, Yale’s financial ties to weapons makers, and its response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on campus. The walkout drew cheers from fellow students but was otherwise peaceful, with no mention made from the stage.
Law enforcement officers gathered at the University of California at Los Angeles to clear out a pro-Palestinian protest camp that was attacked by pro-Israel supporters the night before. The police were met with jeers and chants from hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists as they moved in to remove the encampment. Similar protests and arrests of pro-Palestinian activists have been reported at other universities across the United States in response to the conflict between Hamas and Israel.
Pro-Palestinian activists occupied a building at Columbia University, escalating a battle with administrators who have begun suspending students for refusing to dismantle tents set up on the New York campus. The activists entered Hamilton Hall, hung a banner reading “Hind’s Hall,” and blocked the doors with outdoor tables. The protesters stated the building was liberated in honor of Hind, a six-year-old Palestinian child, who was killed in Gaza by Israeli forces funded by Columbia University. Police arrived outside the school gates but did not enter the campus unless someone was injured. The university limited access to the campus to students residing in residential buildings and essential employees. The crackdown at Columbia occurred after negotiations failed to end the protest camp set up in opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza. Similar protests and arrests also took place at other universities across the U.S.
Columbia University has begun suspending pro-Palestinian student activists who refused to dismantle a protest camp on campus after negotiations failed. The crackdown follows similar protests at other university campuses across the U.S. Students are demanding divestment, transparency in university finances, and amnesty for those disciplined for participating in protests. The protests have sparked intense debate over freedom of expression and hate speech, with some students facing censure for criticizing the Israeli government or expressing support for Palestinian rights. Other campuses, like UCLA, have seen clashes between pro-Israeli activists and pro-Palestinian protesters. Law enforcement tactics, such as the use of pepper spray and flash-bang charges, have been criticized. Arrests have occurred at various universities, including Virginia Commonwealth University and Virginia Tech.