Injustices and Crackdown on Students Protesting in the U.S Amid Ongoing Israel-Palestine Conflict

A wave of activism surges across American academia as thousands of students from over 130 colleges and universities unite in opposition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

Despite more than 2,000 arrests, the demonstrations persist as campuses brace for upcoming graduation ceremonies. 

What started as a spark at Columbia University in April has ignited a global firestorm of student activism. From New York to every corner of the map, students are voicing fierce condemnation against Israel's violence targeting Gaza civilians. 

Their demand is clear: school administrations must immediately cease enabling the Palestinian genocide. Students facing mass arrests accuse college administrators of trying to suppress free speech to appease the pro-Israel political establishment. 

Not only have these demonstrations triggered significant crackdowns but also political scrutiny, with congressional hearings about campus antisemitism. 

However, according to reports, recent instances of universities responding harshly to campus protests, such as administrators calling the police on students citing vague safety concerns, serve as examples of how schools can perpetrate anti-Palestinian racism. 

This is why students and advocacy organizations have filed complaints and lawsuits against universities, including Columbia University, accusing them of engaging in discrimination against Palestinians. 

Anti-Palestinian racism remains a persistent issue in American politics, particularly escalating during periods of heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians that attract international scrutiny. 

Last October, following the tragic fatal stabbing of a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy in Illinois, President Joe Biden's statement did not explicitly recognize anti-Palestinian racism as a possible motivating factor. 

Instead, he solely addressed the alleged killer's anti-Muslim sentiments, stating, "As Americans, we must unite to denounce Islamophobia and all forms of bigotry and hatred." 

Faculty Takes A Stance with Students 

Several faculty members across various institutes had reportedly stepped up to support their students, with some even joining them in their actions. 

At Emory University in Georgia, faculty members have been arrested during pro-Palestine demonstrations. Noelle McAfee, who chairs the philosophy department, was captured in a widely-shared video being forcefully restrained and led away by Atlanta police. In the video, she can be heard asking the person filming to call the philosophy department office and inform them of her arrest. 

At the University of Chicago (UC), faculty across different departments have expressed their willingness to be arrested alongside students, should the need arise, to defend their right to peaceful protest. 

The situation grew more intense after university administrators ceased dialogue with the protesters following unsuccessful negotiations. The administration issued a deadline for dismantling the student encampment, but faculty members have vehemently opposed any potential use of force. 

Elham Mireshghi, PhD, an assistant instructional professor from the UC Divinity School, emphasized the faculty's dedication, stating, "As faculty members, we will ensure the safety of our students if the administration tries to forcibly remove them." 

In rising tensions on campuses, faculty members at the prestigious New School, which houses the highly regarded Parsons School of Design, have initiated the country's first pro-Palestine encampment within the University Center building on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. 

Set up on May 8 in reaction to recent events on campus, around seven tents now stand in the main lobby, decorated with signs displaying impactful messages like "faculty against genocide" and "Jews for Palestine." 

As the academic year draws to a close, those critical of pro-Palestinian student protests may hope that these activities will cease. However, insiders suggest that many student organizers are using the summer months to reorganize and prepare for future demonstrations when the new school year begins.