Pro-Palestinian Protests Surge at US Universities
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Pro-Palestinian protests have surged at American universities, as students express outrage over the institutions' ties to the Israeli regime and Washington's staunch support for Tel Aviv's ongoing genocidal war on Gaza.
A sizable contingent of demonstrators has erected a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" at Columbia University, where hundreds of students are urging the institution to divest from companies linked to the Israeli regime. In response to the rallies, university officials have announced that classes will be conducted virtually on Monday.
Earlier in the week, police intervened, leading to the arrest of over a hundred protesters. This action has fueled increased participation in the protests over the weekend.
The wave of demonstrations has also swept through other campuses, including MIT, New York University, the University of Michigan, and Yale. At Yale, at least 47 individuals were arrested on Monday for reportedly refusing to disperse. The university stated, "Students who were arrested also will be referred for Yale disciplinary action, which includes a range of sanctions, such as reprimand, probation, or suspension."
US President Joe Biden has criticized the student protests, stating he condemns those who he claimed "don't understand what's going on with the Palestinians."
The US has provided unwavering political, military, and intelligence support for the war initiated by the Israeli regime on October 7 last year, following an operation by Gaza's resistance groups.
Since the start of the Zionist military campaign, at least 34,097 Palestinians have been slaughtered in the Palestinian territory. Women and children account for approximately 72 percent of the casualties, with as many as 76,980 others sustaining injuries.
