(NewsNation) — Students across the U.S. are protesting on their campuses, calling for an end to the Israeli military action in Gaza and demanding schools divest from Israel.
Many of the protests are peaceful, but others have led to arrests and suspensions, including at Columbia University. Some schools have moved to hybrid learning models due to the disruption.
Some Jewish students have said the protests are antisemitic and are a threat to their safety. But other Jewish student groups are taking part in protests and say antisemitism is being weaponized against those who support Palestine.
Since Oct. 7, when the war began with an attack on Israel by Hamas that killed 1,200 people, Israel has been engaged in military action in the Gaza Strip.
More than 34,000 Palestinians have died, many of them civilians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas as it is the governing authority in the territory.
More than 40 tents set up at UCLA
A “Palestine Solidarity Encampment” has been set up at the University of California, Los Angeles.
NYPD Deputy Commissioner on officer surrounded at protest
NYPD Deputy Commissioner Tarik Sheppard said the officer was experienced and had handled hundreds of protests and was not in danger.
“At no point did he feel he was in any danger and he made a decision to focus on getting a prisoner to a secure area instead of focusing on protesters who were making a lot of noise. He was very calm under pressure and he did his job well,” Sheppard said.
Texas National Guard to be deployed to UT-Austin
Multiple sources tell NewsNation’s Ali Bradley that the Texas National Guard is set to deploy to the Austin campus of the University of Texas to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety in responding to the protests.
Where are students protesting?
Universities and colleges across the country are protesting. Here’s where protests are happening:
- Columbia University
- University of Texas, Austin
- University of Southern California
- The Ohio State University
- Harvard University
- California State Polytechnic University, Humbolt
- Emerson College
- New York University
- Yale University
- University of California, Berkely
- Emory University
- Princeton University
- The George Washington University
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
- University of Minnesota
- University of California, Los Angeles
- The New School
- Brown University
- Tufts University
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Pittsburgh
- University of North Carolina, Charlotte
- Rice University
- University of Texas, Arlington
- University of Texas, Dallas
- University of Texas, San Antonio
- University of New Mexico
- American University
- Michigan State University
- Swarthmore College
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Delaware
- City University of New York
- Washington University
- Vanderbilt University
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- University of Maryland, Baltimore City
- Stanford University
- University of Florida
- Florida State University
- NY Fashion Institute of Technology
- Georgia Tech
- University of Rochester
- University of Maryland, College Park
- University of Southern Maine
- University of Illinois
- John Hopkins University
- Texas A&M
Hundreds of arrests at protests nationwide
At Columbia University, 108 students were arrested on April 18, 2024. On Monday, more than 150 students were arrested at New York University and 47 at Yale.
In the past 24 hours, 93 people were arrested at the University of Southern California, 34 at the University of Texas and 108 at Emerson.
Austin demonstrators wait for release of arrested protesters
Following arrests on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Wednesday, demonstrators waited outside a local jail for arrested protesters to be released.
NewsNation affiliate KXAN reported 57 people were arrested and booked into the Travis County Jail.
USC closes campus to the public as students protest
The University of Southern California has closed the school save for students, faculty and those with business on campus as protests began on Wednesday, NewsNation affiliate KTLA reports.
Northwestern students join protests
NewsNation affiliate WGN reported Northwestern students were joining the protest movement, bringing tents to set up an encampment at the school.
Students and police clash at Emory University
Video on X, formerly known as Twitter, shows police and students clashing at the Georgia school.
Protests spread across the country
Following arrests and suspensions at an encampment at Columbia University, students began protesting on campuses nationwide.
The initial Columbia encampment began as the university’s president testified before Congress on antisemitism on campus.
Lawmakers, including Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have come out strongly against the protests, saying protesters are part of the problem with one representative calling them a “pathetic abomination.”
Republican representatives have warned that if universities do not get protests under control, Congress could take action regarding federal funding for schools. They have also called on President Joe Biden to mobilize the National Guard to quell the gatherings.