In the last few weeks, protesters have been gathering at higher-education institutions protesting about the Israel-Hamas War, which started on October 7th, 2023. Demonstrations have been peaceful at some campuses, but law enforcement was called to universities where protestors have set up encampments with tents, signs, and other supplies. Columbia University in New York City called in the New York City Police Department on April 30th to conduct a clearing of the Hamilton Hall building, as it had been taken over by protestors who wouldn’t leave until their demands were met. Their main demand was for Columbia to divest from companies supporting Israel and the War in Gaza. After processing by the NYPD, it was revealed that more than 40% of the demonstrators were not Columbia students.
“There is a movement to radicalize young people, and I’m not going to wait until it’s done and all of a sudden acknowledge the existence of it,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. “This is a global problem that young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children, and I’m not going to allow that to happen as the mayor of the City of New York.”
However, protests haven’t been completely one-sided. Pro-Palestinian and other groups have clashed in various instances, creating hostile environments that have led to over 2,000 arrests nationwide so far. At the University of California Los Angeles, counter-protestors attacked a pro-Palestinian encampment on May 1st. This immensely boosted tensions through the roof as the Los Angeles Police Department had to respond with force to maintain order, arresting 200 people. A day later, the LAPD moved in to clear the encampment entirely. With graduation on the horizon, Colleges do not want to risk student safety and are making security preparations. As of late April, more than 50 schools have reported demonstrations of some sort.
