Along with protesting the Israeli offensive that has killed an estimated 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza and spread widespread devastation in the area, students are urging university officials to divest from companies that support Israel’s military efforts.
Groups of students setting up these encampments are working indepedently, although they say they’ve been inspired by protests at other schools, including one at Columbia University in New York where more than 100 demonstrators were arrested.
Police have been brought into other protests, as well. In response, some colleges have pivoted their plans for graduation ceremonies.
The New York Civil Liberties Union in a statement on Tuesday cautioned universities against being too quick to call in law enforcement. Other organizations have also criticized what they see as a suppression of students’ free speech.
“Officials should not conflate criticism of Israel with antisemitism or use hate incidents as a pretext to silence political views they oppose,” said Donna Lieberman, the group’s executive director.
Some students, though, say they are concerned that some criticism of Israel has veered into antisemitism. Protesters, though, point out that many Jewish students have joined in their cause, and that some have faced antisemitism because they support an independent Palestine. Muslim and specifically Palestinian students, protesters at Columbia University said at a news conference earlier this week, have also not felt safe on campus in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Columbia University
People sit outside tents at the pro-Palestinian demonstration encampment at Columbia University in New York on Wednesday April 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called for Columbia University to put an end to protests or risk Congressional action. (NewsNation)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 24: Student demonstrators occupy the pro-Palestinian “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the West Lawn of Columbia University on April 24, 2024 in New York City. School administrators and pro-Palestinian student protesters made progress on negations after the school set a midnight deadline for students to disband the encampment. The students agreed to remove many of the tents erected on the lawn, ensured that non-students would leave, and bared discriminatory or harassing language among the protesters. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 23: Columbia University students participate in an ongoing pro-Palestinian encampment on their campus following last week’s arrest of more than 100 protesters on April 23, 2024 in New York City. In a growing number of college campuses throughout the country, student protesters are setting up tent encampments on school grounds to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for their schools to divest from Israeli companies.(Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
NYPD officers from the Strategic Response Group form a wall of protection around Deputy Commissioner of Legal Matters Michael Gerber and Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kay Daughtry, not in the picture, during a press conference regarding the ongoing pro-Palestinians protest encampment at Columbia University in New York on Monday, April 22, 2024. U.S. colleges and universities are preparing for end-of-year commencement ceremonies with a unique challenge: providing safety for graduates while honoring the free speech rights of students involved in protests over the Israel-Hamas war. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Student protesters sit in front of a tent during the Pro-Palestinian protest at the Columbia University campus in New York, Monday April 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
People rally and camp inside the Columbia University which is occupied by pro-Palestian protesters in New York on April 22, 2024. US President Joe Biden condemned any anti-Semitism on college campuses April April 21, 2024 as pro-Palestinian protesters at Columbia University spent their fifth day demanding the school sever financial ties with key US ally Israel. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 21:Pro-Palestinian students occupy a central lawn on the Columbia University campus, on April 21, 2024 in New York City. Earlier in the week over 100 students were arrested by the police and suspended by the university for demonstrating against the war in Gaza and demanding the University divest from Israel. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES – APRIL 17: Police take security measures as demonstrators gather outside Columbia University to support the students’ “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” demonstration held on South Lawn of Columbia University campus with more than 100 students who were demanding that Columbia divest from corporations with ties to Israel in New York, United States on April 17, 2024. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Columbia University students are arrested for an “unauthorized encampment” as part of a pro-Palestine protest. (NewsNation)
1 / 11
University of Texas at Austin
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators face off with Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) officers at the University of Texas (UT) in Austin, Texas, US, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Law enforcement officers handcuffed and removed at least 31 people participating in a pro-Palestinian student protest on the University of Texas at Austin campus on Wednesday, reported the Texas Tribune. Photographer: Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg via Getty Images
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Mounted police work to contain demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class as protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 24: A student is arrested protesting the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class and gathered in protest during a pro-Palenstine demonstation. Protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Mounted police work to contain demonstrators protesting the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class as protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Students protest the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class as protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Students protest the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class as protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – APRIL 24: Police keep watch at a protest of the war in Gaza at the University of Texas at Austin on April 24, 2024 in Austin, Texas. Students walked out of class as protests continue to sweep college campuses around the country. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
2 / 7
University of Southern California
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Members of the law enforcement and police officers intervene the Pro-Palestinian student protesters as they gather to protest Israel attacks over Gaza, at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 24, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Members of the law enforcement and police officers intervene the Pro-Palestinian student protesters as they gather to protest Israel attacks over Gaza, at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 24, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A University of Southern California protester, right, confronts a University Public Safety officer at the campus’ Alumni Park during a pro-Palestinian occupation on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Students protest Wednesday, April 24,2024, at the University of Southern California. (NewsNation)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Members of the law enforcement and police officers intervene the Pro-Palestinian student protesters as they gather to protest Israel attacks over Gaza, at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 24, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 24: Members of the law enforcement and police officers intervene the Pro-Palestinian student protesters as they gather to protest Israel attacks over Gaza, at University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California, United States on April 24, 2024. (Photo by Grace Hie Yoon/Anadolu via Getty Images)
3 / 6
Emory University
Police officers detain a demonstrator during a pro-Palestinian protest against the war in Gaza at Emory University on April 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. College campuses across the US braced for fresh protests by pro-Palestinian students, extending a week of increasingly confrontational standoffs with police, mass arrests and accusations of anti-Semitism. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)
Students chant during a pro-Palestinian protest at Emory University on April 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)
A protester holds up her fist during a pro-Palestinian protest against the war in Gaza at Emory University on April 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. College campuses across the US braced for fresh protests by pro-Palestinian students, extending a week of increasingly confrontational standoffs with police, mass arrests and accusations of anti-Semitism. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)
Police officers arrest a demonstrator during a pro-Palestinian protest against the war in Gaza at Emory University on April 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. College campuses across the US braced for fresh protests by pro-Palestinian students, extending a week of increasingly confrontational standoffs with police, mass arrests and accusations of anti-Semitism. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)
Students chant during a pro-Palestinian protest at Emory University on April 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. College campuses across the US braced for fresh protests by pro-Palestinian students, extending a week of increasingly confrontational standoffs with police, mass arrests and accusations of anti-Semitism. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)
Pro-Palestinian activists confront police officers during a demonstration at Emory University on April 25, 2024, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Elijah Nouvelage / AFP) (Photo by ELIJAH NOUVELAGE/AFP via Getty Images)
4 / 6
Emerson College
Police arrest pro-Palestinian demonstrators as the Emerson College Palestinian protest camp is cleared in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2024. According to Boston Police, 108 people were arrested and 4 officers were hurt as they broke up the camp. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Police move in to arrest pro-Palestinian supporters who were blocking the road after the Emerson College Palestinian protest camp was cleared by police in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2024. According to Boston Police, 108 people were arrested and 4 officers were hurt as they broke up the camp. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Police move in to arrest pro-Palestinian supporters who were blocking the road after the Emerson College Palestinian protest camp was cleared by police in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2024. According to Boston Police, 108 people were arrested and 4 officers were hurt as they broke up the camp. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Police arrest pro-Palestinian demonstrators as the Emerson College Palestinian protest camp is cleared in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2024. According to Boston Police, 108 people were arrested and 4 officers were hurt as they broke up the camp. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Pro-Palestinian supporters yell at police after the Emerson College Palestinian protest camp was cleared by police in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2024. According to Boston Police, 108 people were arrested and 4 officers were hurt as they broke up the camp. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Pro-Palestinian supporters yell at police after the Emerson College Palestinian protest camp was cleared by police in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2024. According to Boston Police, 108 people were arrested and 4 officers were hurt as they broke up the camp. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
Police and pro-Palestinian supporters face off after the Emerson College Palestinian protest camp was cleared by police in Boston, Massachusetts, on April 25, 2024. According to Boston Police, 108 people were arrested and 4 officers were hurt as they broke up the camp. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP) (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)
5 / 7
Harvard
Cambridge, MA – April 24: A protester drapes a keffiyeh – a scarf associated with Palestinians – over the statue of John Harvard during a pro-Palestinian rally in Harvard Yard. (Photo by Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Cambridge, MA – April 24: Harvard Yard was closed to public access today, with security guards at select entrances admitting only those with Harvard University ID cards. Most smaller entrances to the yard were closed. (Photo by Lane Turner/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, US, on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Campuses across the US have been grappling with pro-Palestinian protests and counter demonstrations since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Photographer: Joe Buglewicz/Bloomberg via Getty Images
