PTC News Desk:  Escalating frustrations with university administrations and law enforcement have heightened tensions on multiple US campuses, following days of demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine. The protests have led to numerous arrests and the suspension of classes.

Some of the nation’s most esteemed universities have been thrust into turmoil as students and activists occupy campus spaces, expressing outrage over the Israel-Hamas conflict and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

At Columbia University in New York, which has become a hub for the spreading protests, organisers are demanding that the university divest from companies profiting from what they term “Israeli apartheid, genocide, and occupation in Palestine.”

Pro-Israel advocates and others concerned about campus safety have highlighted incidents of anti-Semitism and argue that campuses are fostering an environment of intimidation and hate speech.

Ben Chang, Columbia’s vice president of public affairs, stated on Monday, “Students have the right to protest, but they are not permitted to disrupt campus life or engage in harassment and intimidation.” He added that the university is addressing concerns raised by Jewish students and engaging in constructive dialogue with protesters.

In response, protesters, including Jewish students participating in the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment,” have disavowed any acts of anti-Semitism and reiterated their support for Palestinians. Speaking at a news conference alongside Palestinian students, Jewish student Sarah Borus from Columbia’s Barnard College criticised university administrations and political leaders for silencing voices critical of Zionism.

Meanwhile, protesting students allege that a pro-Israel professor made derogatory remarks toward them and that incidents of anti-Muslim sentiment on campus are being ignored.

However, another Jewish student at Columbia, Nick Baum, told CNN that he has felt “unsafe” on campus recently, citing a surge in anti-Semitic behaviour. In response to Columbia President Minouche Shafik’s decision to involve law enforcement in arresting students, some professors have pushed back, announcing their refusal to enforce student suspensions.

While campus activism around the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not new, the heightened tensions amid the ongoing conflict have drawn significant media and political attention. House Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the situation at Columbia University, characterising the protests as “anti-Semitic mobs” and emphasizing the need for a safe environment for Jewish students.

NYU protest leads to arrests

In a separate incident downtown, 133 individuals were arrested at New York University (NYU) and later released with court summonses, according to the New York Police Department. This occurred amidst escalating protests occurring at various colleges across the city.

An NYU spokesperson explained that the decision to involve law enforcement was made after additional demonstrators, many of whom were not affiliated with the university, breached the barriers surrounding the protest encampment. This sudden development drastically altered the situation, the spokesperson stated in a Monday announcement on the university’s website, citing disorderly conduct, disruption of activities, and provocative behaviour, including intimidating chants and multiple anti-Semitic incidents.

Meanwhile, on the West Coast, California State Polytechnic University announced its closure until at least Wednesday due to the occupation of an administrative building by pro-Palestinian demonstrators. The protests have garnered attention from President Joe Biden’s administration. US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona condemned anti-Semitic behavior on college campuses, expressing concern about the ongoing unrest.

In response to these events, hundreds of NYU students and faculty staged a walkout that same afternoon. Similar demonstrations have taken place at MIT, the University of Michigan, UC Berkeley, and Yale, where 47 individuals were arrested on Monday after refusing orders to disperse.

– With inputs from agencies