Student protests against Israel’s warfare in Gaza continue at several universities across the United States.
Now the university council wants to review the management of Columbia University’s handling of the protests. The management has been accused of undermining academic freedom and violating the rights of both students and professors, writes New York Times.
Hundreds detained
In total, over 550 people have been detained in the past week, reports the Reuters news agency. At several universities, the concerns are affecting the higher education institutions’ operations.
– Recently, the University of Southern California announced that they are canceling their graduation ceremony that was supposed to take place next week, says Dag Blanck, professor of North American Studies.
Several have testified to violence from the police and students believe that the protests would have gone peacefully if the police had not acted against the demonstrators with such force.
“Trouble for Biden”
The campus demonstrations have also become a problem for Joe Biden, according to Dag Blanck.
– Biden is a great friend of Israel and has been on Israel’s side the whole time since October 7. But he is also an advocate of a two-state solution and is not a big fan of the current government in Israel.
Now Democrats who demonstrate can start to doubt Biden, says Blanck.
– Those who supported him in the last election may now begin to hesitate because of his support for Israel.
Many students got involved in the protests against the Vietnam War in 1968 by building large solidarity camps on their campuses and, according to Dag Blanck, certain parallels can be drawn with today’s campus protests in the USA.
– Students often get involved in issues like this and occupying the campus with tent camps is an echo from 1968, says Dag Blanck.