Pro-Palestine Movement Sweeps Campuses Globally
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Universities emerge as the frontline of the pro-Palestinian movement, as students mobilize in unprecedented numbers to challenge their institutions' ties with the Israeli regime and advocate for Palestinian rights.
Students at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have initiated a Gaza solidarity encampment on their campus, demanding the renowned Irish institution sever connections with Israel.
"Trinity College Dublin tonight, after students set up an encampment for Palestine, demanding that their university cut ties with Israel as per BDS principles supported by the vast majority of students and staff," the college's student union president, Laszlo Molnarfi, expressed on social media.
"No business as usual during a genocide," Molnarfi emphasized on social media, urging the university's administration to "cut ties with the genocidal state of Israel."
US Campus Demonstrations Echo Support for Palestine
Protesters bearing Palestinian flags disrupted a commencement ceremony at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, displaying signs with messages like "UM funds genocide" and "ACAB," denoting "all cops are b…".
Chants of "USA, USA, USA" filled the auditorium as university warnings flashed on screens, urging protesters to depart.
US Senator Bernie Sanders lent support to the student-led pro-Palestine movement, asserting their stance as "on the right side of history." Sanders invoked his own activist history, stating, "In 1962, we organized sit-ins to end racist policies at the University of Chicago. In ’63, I was arrested protesting segregated schools. But we were right. I’m proud to see students protesting the war in Gaza. Stay peaceful and focused.”
Global Solidarity Sparks Campus Protests
Solidarity demonstrations with Palestinians facing the Israeli siege of Gaza have proliferated on university campuses worldwide.
While the focus has been on US campuses, protests and sit-ins have emerged across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The majority of demonstrations advocate for college divestment from companies supporting the Israeli regime and the war on Gaza.
The ongoing Israeli offensive has triggered a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with half of the population facing imminent famine, according to the Gaza health ministry and UN
Pro-Palestinian Protests Span Across Continents
Pro-Palestinian protest camps have sprung up at several Australian universities in recent weeks. Similarly, UK universities have witnessed demonstrations, with encampments established in some locations.
In France, protests erupted at prestigious universities like Sciences Po and the Sorbonne, leading to police intervention. The scene repeated in India's Jawaharlal Nehru University, coinciding with a postponed visit by the US ambassador.
Canadian campuses, including McGill University, have also seen pro-Palestinian demonstrations, echoing demands for divestment from companies linked to Israel.
Additionally, Lebanon and Canada have witnessed protests demanding university boycotts of companies doing business with Israel. In Beirut, students at the American University of Beirut protested outside the campus gates.
The escalating death toll in Gaza, with over 34,622 Palestinians killed and 77,867 wounded in Israeli attacks since October 7, underscores the urgency driving global protests against Israeli atrocities.