Earlier this year, disruptive protests
rocked American colleges. The protests raised big questions about rights to free
speech and the role of law enforcement. But where did it all begin?

On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists raided
Israel, killing over a thousand people and taking dozens of hostages. In
response, Israel declared war and began bombarding Hamas-controlled Gaza.
Thousands of Palestinian civilians died in the strikes. (For a fuller
explanation of the conflict, read Hamas Attacks,
Israel Declares War.)

Many believe Israel’s response is a
justified reaction to atrocities committed by and threats made by Hamas. Others
claim Israel has gone too far and is attempting genocide against the
Palestinian people.

Across the United States, college students—and
even some professors—took part in pro-Palestinian protests. They demanded their
schools stop supporting Israeli or pro-Israeli businesses. The protests began
peacefully—but not all of them ended that way.

It started at Columbia University in New
York City. Students camped on the lawn and set up barricades. They occupied
Hamilton Hall, an administration building. They draped pro-Palestinian banners
from balconies. Due to the tense situation, Columbia canceled its graduation
ceremonies.

Then came the counter-protesters. At the University
of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), counter-protesters attacked the
pro-Palestinian encampment. They wore masks and used pepper spray, injuring more
than a dozen people.

The U.S. Constitution enshrines (elevates
and protects) free speech. People have the right to gather and share
their opinions—even bad opinions. In a world where evil is called good,
unpopular thoughts often require protection. The founders understood that.

But just because something is a right,
does that make it right?

The campus protests went beyond speech.
They caused disruption. Some demonstrators used their speech to tear down
others, hurling anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) words at Jewish students. At schools
like Columbia, many Jewish students said they felt unsafe.

On some campuses, the police intervened. Officers
cleared protesters from Hamilton Hall without incident. But at other schools—such
as UCLA—students refused to budge. This led to violent clashes between police
and protesters. In St. Louis, Missouri, a professor suffered nine broken ribs
and a broken hand when officers arrested him. Officials detained more than 2,100
protesters nationwide.

Some students believe authorities violated
the protesters’ rights. “This is too intense,” says Fabien Lugo. He’s a student
at Columbia, but he wasn’t involved in the protests. “It feels like more of an
escalation than a de-escalation.”

Historians say this year’s protests are
far from America’s ugliest. In the 1960s and ’70s, many students protested against
the Vietnam War. Some marches and rallies turned violent. At Kent State
University, the National Guard shot four protesters.

When entering tense situations, such as
protests, police officers face a tricky problem. They want to prevent chaos and
violence. Many are trained to de-escalate conflicts. But protesters might see
them not as peacekeepers, but as powerful entities intending to squash their
message. The appearance of armed officers in riot gear can heighten tensions
for demonstrators who are whipped up over insistence that their objections must
be heard. That can lead to the very violence law enforcement wants to avoid.

Human governments, and the rights they
protect, are gifts from God. But even a good gift can be twisted. Speech can
turn into hate. Resistance can turn into riot. Law and order can turn into
violence. He can we steward these gifts well instead?

Why? When we abuse our rights, we risk
losing them.