Police arrest hundreds of protesters at Columbia University and UCLA after rival protests violently clash

At Northeastern University in Boston, police cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment on Centennial Common and detained about 100 people with zip ties. According to CBS Boston, "Of the 98 people arrested, 29 were Northeastern students and six were staff." The university administrators stated that the protest posed a threat to safety, citing "intolerant and hurtful speech" heard on campus.

Similar actions have been taken at other universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Tufts University, where school authorities have called for an end to encampments on their campuses.

At Columbia University in New York City, dozens of students were arrested after police entered the campus to clear out an academic building occupied by pro-Palestinian protesters. The university officials requested police intervention to "restore safety and order to our community," stating that the group who occupied the building was led by individuals not affiliated with the university.

The crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests has extended beyond New York and Boston. At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), violence erupted when counter-protesters attacked encampment demonstrations. LAPD and campus police intervened to disperse the crowds.

Everyone has a right to free speech and protest, but the situation on UCLA’s campus is out of control and is no longer safe. I’m grateful to LAPD and Mayor Bass for stepping in to ensure the safety of everyone on campus. https://t.co/NYLmBI4Pn0

— Councilwoman Katy Yaroslavsky (@CD5LosAngeles) May 1, 2024

The demonstrations at various universities across the country have drawn attention to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The protests have sparked discussions about free speech, human rights, and the role of universities in political activism.

In response to the protests, former President Donald Trump suggested that the demonstrations were an attempt to divert attention from other issues, such as the situation at the US-Mexico border. However, student protesters have emphasized their commitment to standing up against what they see as human rights violations in Gaza.

Despite the arrests, there is no indication of foreign influence in the campus protests, according to national security and law enforcement officials. While external groups, including non-students, have participated in the demonstrations, there is no evidence of foreign interference.

The protests, which originated at Columbia University, have now spread to other campuses, including high schools. In Iowa City, students at City High School are planning a school strike in solidarity with “those at Columbia University, who are standing up in protest against US involvement of egregious human rights violations occurring everyday in Gaza”.

This Friday, high schoolers at Iowa City’s City High are skipping school and having a demonstration on the school lawn in solidarity with Palestine and pro Palestinian student protestors across the country. The kids are indeed alright. pic.twitter.com/uPjhEj0USQ

— Oliver 🐇🐈‍⬛ (@Ollie_XVX) April 30, 2024

Early Wednesday, police took down encampments at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, as a means to stop a peaceful student protest. Police detained several protestors, mostly students. At least one professor was pinned down and arrested by officers during the situation.

According to Tyler Katzenberger, a reporter covering the encampment protests in Madison, the professor requested that police leave the students alone.

Professor pinned on the ground being arrested at @UWMadison, asking police to leave students alone pic.twitter.com/pr72TA6eQW

— Tyler Katzenberger (@TylerKatzen) May 1, 2024