It seems that the only way for authorities to stop wising pro-Palestine sentiments and protests is to make arrests and crack down on any such movement.
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NYPD officers clash with pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli protesters during a rally outside Columbia University in New York on February 2, 2024. (AFP)
The New York Police Department moved Thursday afternoon to disperse a pro-Palestine demonstration at Columbia University, detaining dozens of activists who had set up an encampment of around 50 tents on campus, The New York Times reported.
The arrests, which brought a fresh gathering of students to support the protesters, occurred the day after university authorities promised Congress they would crack down on student rallies related to the war on Gaza.
Officers dressed in riot gear and armed with zip ties began arresting protesters shortly before 1:30 pm Over a megaphone, a man stated that since they “refused to disperse,” they would now be under arrest for trespassing. “If you resist arrest, you may face additional charges.”
Maryam Alwan, a senior and pro-Palestinian organizer on campus, expressed that “they can threaten us all they want with the police, but at the end of the day, it’s only going to lead to more mobilization.”
Police officers loaded at least three buses with protesters, who complied while being brought into jail, and other organizers say they anticipated being detained.
Other protesters shouted “Shame! Shame!”
Nemat Shafik, Columbia’s President, enraged some students and academics during her hearing before the House Committee on Education and the Workforce on Wednesday when she mainly admitted that she believed some of the usual slogans during pro-Palestine marches were “antisemitic”.
As the arrests began, Shafik stated in a letter that she took this “extraordinary step because these are extraordinary circumstances.”
In recent months, the school’s administration has taken steps to limit demonstrations and reprimanded scores of students who have shown resistance.
The New York Civil Liberties Union, in conjunction with a Palestinian advocacy group, has initiated legal action against Columbia University for its decision to suspend two pro-Palestinian organizations advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The legal action represents the latest development in how unrest on college campuses is unfolding across the United States amid the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.
USC cancels pro-Palestinian valedictorian’s speech
In a related context, the University of Southern California faced criticism from a prominent Muslim organization following its decision to cancel the commencement speech of its valedictorian. The University cited “security concerns” arising from heightened tensions surrounding the ongoing war on Gaza as the reason for the cancellation.
On Monday, Asna Tabassum received the news that she would no longer be delivering a speech alongside her fellow graduates at the Los Angeles University’s celebration on May 10.
In a statement released by the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Tabassum said, “I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the University is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.”
In an announcement on Monday, USC Provost Andrew Guzman expressed concern over the recent tone of discussions surrounding the selection of the university’s valedictorian.
“The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement,” Guzman said.
USC reportedly received complaints from at least two pro-Israeli organizations regarding the selection of the valedictorian over ” her social media activity.”
In her personal statement regarding USC’s decision, Tabassum described herself as a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim hailing from Chino Hills, located east of Los Angeles. She is pursuing a major in biomedical engineering and a minor in resistance to genocide.
