Summary
- Police deployed after UCLA pro-Palestinian encampment attacked
- Columbia University occupation in NYC cleared overnight
- Some 300 people were arrested at Columbia and nearby City College
- Arrests were made, and protest camps cleared at other universities
There have been clashes between supporters of Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UCLA, with Visuals showing instances of violence and police deployment. In New York, approximately 300 pro-Palestinian protestors were arrested at Columbia University and City College. The tension between the two sides has arisen from Hamas’s attacks on Israel and the subsequent actions taken by Israel. Across the US, student protests have sprung up against Israel’s Gaza offensive, with the demand for divestment from pro-Israeli companies. Some accuse universities of ignoring antisemitism. At UCLA, the pro-Palestinian encampment was declared unlawful, leading to clashes where both sides used pepper spray. Columbia University’s encampment was cleared, with President Shafik condemning property damage and promising campus unity. Police also intervened at Tulane University, the University of Arizona, and the City College of New York. These protests signify a significant student activism movement reminiscent of the anti-racism demonstrations in 2020.
