Student Protests Gain Momentum in US amid Israeli Genocide in Gaza
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Demonstrations against Israel's genocide in Gaza have intensified as students in US universities establish new protest encampments, echoing nationwide calls for action.
Students at Yale University have erected a fresh encampment on the campus in Connecticut's northeastern state, continuing their protest against Israel's crimes in Gaza.
The move follows the dismantling of a previous protest camp by Yale police, resulting in the arrest of 44 students for trespassing, as reported by the Yale Daily News.
According to the news outlet, university authorities reiterated their call for students to disband, cautioning them of potential arrest and suspension if they persist.
In New Orleans, ten individuals were apprehended during a pro-Palestine demonstration at Jackson Square, as per local media sources.
The arrests occurred after around thirty-six protesters endeavored to establish a protest camp by erecting tents in the square, situated in the city's French Quarter, an area frequented by tourists, stated the NOLA news website.
Police disclosed that they sought to clear the square at 7 p.m., its nightly closure time, encountering resistance from protesters who allegedly "struck officers with various items."
Elijah Kahlenberg, a Jewish-American student who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the University of Texas at Austin, voiced his belief that Israel's actions in Gaza amount to genocide.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, the 21-year-old expressed his journey of reevaluating his views, stating, "I began a process of unpacking a lot of what I was told...and the conclusion I came to is that Palestinian culture is more similar to my culture than to any other culture in the world."
Kahlenberg dismissed accusations of anti-Semitism, affirming his solidarity with Palestinians despite personal attacks, including being labeled a "Kapo," a term referencing Jews who collaborated with Nazis.
The Associated Press revealed that nearly 900 individuals have been arrested across US campuses since April 18, when New York police disbanded a pro-Palestinian protest camp at Columbia University.
Numerous universities have witnessed the establishment of similar encampments, demanding an end to Israel's war in Gaza and urging universities to sever ties with companies supplying weapons to Israel.
On Saturday alone, approximately 275 individuals were detained during protests at Northeastern University, Arizona State University, Indiana University, and Washington University.
Faculty members at various institutions, including those in California, Georgia, and Texas, have voiced support for student initiatives, with some adopting votes of no confidence in university leadership.
According to reports, Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7 have resulted in at least 34,454 Palestinian fatalities and 77,575 injuries.
