Pro-Palestinian Demonstrations Lead to Mass Arrests at U.S. Universities
More than 200 protesters were arrested on Saturday at Northeastern University, Arizona State University, Indiana University, and Washington University in St. Louis, as colleges across the country struggle to quell growing pro-Palestinian demonstrations and encampments on campus.
Since April 18, over 700 protesters have been arrested on U.S. campuses, starting with Columbia University where the New York Police Department cleared a protest encampment. Most of those arrested have been released in several cases.
At Washington University in St. Louis, more than 80 arrests were made, leading to a campus lockdown on Saturday evening. Among those arrested was Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate for the 2024 presidential election, along with her campaign manager and another staff member.
In Boston, at Northeastern University, protesters set up an encampment on the campus’s Centennial Common that drew over 100 supporters. Despite the administration’s request for protesters to leave, many students remained. Massachusetts State Police officers arrived at the encampment at dawn on Saturday, arresting 102 protesters.
A Northeastern spokeswoman claimed the demonstration had been “infiltrated by professional organizers” and accused protesters of using antisemitic slurs. However, protesters denied these claims, with a video showing a pro-Israel counterprotester using the offensive language.
Alina Caudle, a sophomore at Northeastern University, reiterated the protesters’ demands for the university to disclose its investments and divest from companies supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Similar arrests were made at Arizona State University and Indiana University, where protesters set up unauthorized encampments. School officials emphasized the importance of creating a safe and secure environment for teaching and learning.
Across the country, universities have employed various strategies to address the protests, with some opting to de-escalate tensions while others have resorted to arrests to disband encampments.
The ongoing demonstrations have sparked disciplinary actions at schools like Harvard and Cornell University, where students connected to pro-Palestinian encampments have faced suspensions.
As tensions continue to rise on campuses nationwide, the future of these protests and the response from university administrations remain uncertain.
