Pro-Palestinian demonstrations continue to spread at universities across the world U.S, as protesters and police clash in different cities. The most violent clashes were recorded in Atlantawhere police entered the campus of Emory University to disperse a student camp, and in Emerson College in Bostonwhere 108 people were arrested this Thursday, the 25th, and four police officers were injured.
Arrests were also made by police in University of Southern California and on University of Texasin Austin, in an effort by institution directors to prevent students from repeating the protests held at Columbia University, where camps were set up that altered campus life. The protesters, including Jews opposed to the war in the Gaza Stripare accused in some cases of anti-Semitism by students and teachers.
The university students’ main demand is the end of funding and projects from institutions with companies that are involved with Israel and the war in the Gaza Strip, from weapons manufacturers to technology companies such as Google and the Airbnb, which allows advertisements in Israeli settlements in the West Bank. So far, universities have rejected divestment.
Police shout for protesters to leave at a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Texas, in an image from Wednesday, 25. Protests spread across the country after movement at Columbia University Photograph: Mikala Compton/AP
In Atlanta, police dispersed an encampment at Emory University on Thursday morning and clashed with protesters to clear the area. According to the university newspaper, police used pepper gas and arrested some protesters. On the networks, videos not independently verified by the press show police officers immobilizing people on the ground using a teaser, while people scream around them.
Atlanta Police Department spokesman Anthony Grant said officers were “providing support and assistance” at the request of university police. University spokesperson Laura Diamond explained that some of the protesters were not students and “invaded” the campus. Neither of them responded about the tactics used for the dispersal.
In Boston, police moved to disperse a protest led by Emerson College students outside the State Transportation Building and clashed with students who formed a human wall and held up umbrellas to impede police action, according to images. video of the location. A total of 108 arrests were made, and four officers were injured, according to the police department. The department also reported that there were no reports of injuries among the detained protesters.
Footage from the scene in Boston shows people screaming as police remove students or push them to the ground. The group Emerson Students for Justice in Palestine accused the police of “beating” those who were at the protest. So far, the institution has not commented.
A protester holds a sign reading “Jews for Ceasefire” during a protest against the war in Gaza at Emory University in Atlanta on Thursday. Anti-war Jews join protests in the US Photograph: Elijah Nouvelage/AFP
The cases repeated what happened at other American universities this week. In total, more than 400 people who were part of the demonstrations have been detained since April 18, but it is unclear how many are students. At Columbia University, where the protests began, more than 100 people were detained.
Despite police action, protests spread across American universities. As universities try to contain them, some politicians are asking the US government for stronger measures. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said US President Joe Biden should consider using military force to disperse protesters.
Universities with protests suspended students, under pressure from the most opposing politicians and from donors and alumni who consider the demonstrations anti-Semitic.
Student activists say the rejection of the protests gives them more strength. As of Thursday, there were few signs that the movement has weakened. /NYT, AP, WP
Tags: ProPalestine protesters arrested universities clashes police
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