Students march in support of Palestine at Emory University
Video posted by local US media shows the beginnings of a protest on the campus of Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Last week, local police were accused of excessive force when they broke up a demonstration on Emory’s campus.
Protests in support of Palestine have spread across US campuses, and even abroad in places such as Beirut and Paris.
RIGHT NOW: Roughly 100 protesters marching onto Emory’s campus. Another afternoon of rallies planned here.@ATLNewsFirst pic.twitter.com/rNRrzDnPgm
— Patrick Quinn (@PatrickQuinnTV) May 1, 2024
Classes go remote amid multiple arrests, suspensions at Tulane University
Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, says that some classes scheduled in particular buildings will be “conducted remotely” due to protests on campus.
The university issued a statement that said: “Six arrests have been made, and seven suspensions, with another one pending, have been issued to students who have participated in this unlawful demonstration.”
The university added that it was “looking into reports of university employees participating in the demonstration”.
More than a dozen arrests at Tulane University
Tulane University Police Department in New Orleans, Louisiana, says that at least 14 protesters, including two Tulane students, have been arrested.
“These arrests are in addition to the six individuals, including one student, who were arrested on Monday. Monday’s offences include trespassing, resisting arrest and battery on an officer,” the department said in a statement.
It added that seven students had been suspended and that they were “actively looking into reports of university employees participating in this unlawful demonstration”.
Pro-Palestine protesters arrested at Arizona campuses
US police at two campuses in Arizona have cleared out encampments and arrested pro-Palestinian protesters, The AP reports.
Several people were arrested by police in riot gear at the University of Arizona in Tucson after President Robert Robbins directed school officials to “immediately enforce campus use policies”.
Additionally, about 20 people were arrested at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff on trespassing charges. Police dismantled a small fence made of chicken wire, as well as nearly two dozen tents.
At least a dozen other people were arrested at the University of Wisconsin in Madison as police removed tents erected by protesters.
Police pushed into the protesters with shields Wednesday morning, resulting in a scrum. Protesters chanted, “Students hold your ground”, and “Long live Palestine.”
Police have removed all but one of the tents that protesters erected. The protesters’ tents and belongings were loaded into a dump truck.
Police use tear gas on antiwar protesters at Florida university
US police have fired tear gas at protesters who had set up a camp at the University of South Florida to condemn Israel’s war on Gaza.
More than a dozen protesters taken into custody at University of South Florida
University of South Florida (USF) police say that 10 individuals have been taken into custody following protests on campus.
It said that on Tuesday approximately 75-100 protesters, including some students and individuals not affiliated with the university, arrived on campus with several items, including wood shields, umbrellas, and tents.
The police say that it was “determined that the protest was no longer peaceful, and participants must leave the area”. After participants “refused to comply” with instructions to disperse from the event, fourteen individuals were taken into custody.
The police department reported that one of the individuals was carrying a concealed firearm.
Chaotic scenes at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Although it seems very calm now, we’ve been in this situation before, and it can change just like that.
At 6am (10:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the police moved into an area where several protesters had spent several days camping out.
The university had sort of been tolerating them, but had been trying to get them to leave. The police showed up and said you’ve got to go; you’ve got half an hour. They then detained 36 people. Thirty were cited for trespassing and released, and six were arrested on misdemeanours and taken to the courthouse to be booked.
But that was by no means the end of the matter. Come 12 noon (16:00 GMT), they were back, and there were quite ugly scenes.
There were protesters supporting Palestinians. There were counterprotesters here. The police were deployed. We understand that at one point, there were officers from six different police departments, plus the sheriff.
There was pepper spray, and there was tear gas. Batons were being used, and at one point, the pro-Palestinian protesters took the US flag down. They replaced it with a Palestinian flag, which led to the chancellor turning up with police taking down the Palestinian flag and reinstating the American flag.
Police clear encampment at University of Wisconsin
At least 12 people have been arrested when police moved in to clear the encampment at the campus in Madison, Wisconsin, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
That came two days after the encampment was set up. University administrators said camping is banned on campus. Protest organisers promised to renew the demonstration after the tents were cleared.
Students now sitting on the lawn of the Memorial Library pic.twitter.com/ifoXWnr27b
— Sarah Lehr (@SarahGLehr) May 1, 2024
Encamp, divest and keep your eyes on Gaza
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/4/30/encamp-divest-and-keep-your-eyes-on-gaza
On April 22, students set up an encampment at the University of Michigan to demand the university’s complete and total divestment from Israel.
They thus joined dozens of other universities across the United States in standing up in solidarity with the Palestinian people who are facing genocide at the hands of the Israeli army. Israeli forces have killed more than 34,500 Palestinians, including 14,500 children, in Gaza and nearly 490, including 124 children, in the occupied West Bank.
What I have seen at Michigan as a member of the encampment is inspiring.
The protest has been joined by students of various ethnic and religious backgrounds, including Palestinians and Jews, people of Arab and South Asian descent and others. Many community members are spending time in and around the camp: to protect it, distribute food, and learn.
