Continued Support Protests for Gaza in American Universities for the Tenth Day, with Hundreds of Students Arrested
The wave of pro-Palestinian protests in American universities continues for the tenth consecutive day in various states, as administrators at campuses from California to Connecticut try to deal with protesters, leading to the arrest of hundreds by the police.
According to the Associated Press, officials at Columbia and some colleges and universities are negotiating with protesting students who have rejected the police and intensified their efforts. Other universities quickly resorted to law enforcement to quell the protests before they could gain control.
At Indiana University Bloomington, police in riot gear raided protesters and arrested 33, while hours later at the University of Connecticut, police tore down tents and arrested one person. At Ohio State University, police clashed with protesters just hours after their gathering on Thursday evening. University spokesperson Benjamin Johnson said those who refused to leave after warnings were arrested and faced criminal charges of property damage, citing rules prohibiting nighttime events.
In Columbia, protesters set up a tent camp where many are scheduled to graduate in front of their families in a few weeks. Columbia officials said negotiations have shown progress as the university's deadline approaches early Friday to reach an agreement on dismantling the camp.
California State University of the Arts is negotiating with students trapped inside a campus building since Monday, rejecting attempts by police to remove them. Faculty members met with protesters on Thursday to try to negotiate a solution as the campus remains closed at least over the weekend.
The protesters, who are camping at universities across the country, are demanding schools cut financial ties with Israel and withdraw investments from companies they say are aiding the conflict.
On the other side of the state, the University of Southern California announced the cancellation of the school's graduation ceremony scheduled for May 10. The announcement came a day after more than 90 protesters were arrested on campus.
At City College of New York on Thursday, hundreds of students in the Harlem campus chanted after a small group of police officers withdrew. In one corner of the square, security training was conducted among students. The Los Angeles Police Department said 93 people were arrested Wednesday night during a protest on campus for trespassing. One person was arrested for assault with a weapon.
At Emerson College in Boston, 108 people were arrested in a camp in an alley early Thursday, while at Texas Tech University, at least 57 people were arrested and charged with property damage.
