Causes.com
| 5.1.24
Protests Grow Nationwide as Students Demand Divestment From Israel
Should the U.S. call for a ceasefire in Gaza?
Updated May 1, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST
- The battle between protesters and police has intensified on college campuses across the nation.
- On Tuesday night, the NYPD arrested approximately 300 protesters at Columbia University and City College of New York. At Columbia, the police cleared out an academic building that students occupied, using an armored vehicle to enter the hall. Observers are criticizing the violent and unnecessary force used by police officers.
- At the University of California, Los Angeles, counter-protesters attacked the demonstrators, tearing apart their barricade, using physical violence against students, and launching at least one firework into the group's encampment. Witnesses noted the lack of LAPD and UCLA campus police presence during the height of the violence. Officers stood back and watched the events unfold as they said they could no longer "safely hold" space for the encampment. Eventually, California Highway Police removed the attackers.
- Last week, the University of Texas in Austin called in State Troopers to dismantle the students' encampment. The troopers deployed chemical sprays and flash bangs as they arrested over 100 students.
- At the University of Arizona, police fired "non-lethal" chemical weapons at protesters and hit at least one student with a rubber bullet while arrests occurred.
- Similar events are happening at a handful of other schools across the nation, including Tulane University, Portland State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and more.
Updated Apr. 23, 2024, 11:00 a.m. EST
- Protests are growing on college campuses across the country, inspired by the demonstrations occurring at Columbia University.
- Last week, students set up an encampment on Columbia’s main lawn, demanding the university divest from companies with ties to Israel. Over 100 students were arrested after President Minouche Shafik called the New York Police Department to detain those who refused to leave the encampment. Many of the students have been temporarily suspended, including the daughter of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, and kicked out of their dorms. On Monday, Columbia faculty held a walkout, condemning the president’s decision to bring the NYPD onto campus. Lecturer at Columbia, Bassam Khawaja, told the Guardian:
“[I am] shocked and appalled that the president went immediately to the New York police department. This was by all accounts a non-violent protest. It was a group of students camping out on the lawn in the middle of campus. It’s not any different from everyday life on campus.”
- Columbia announced that classes would be taught remotely for the rest of the semester. At the same time, Shafik testified in front of the House of Representatives in Colubmia’s response to antisemitism.
- Simultaneously, New York University students started an encampment on Gould Plaza outside of the Stern School of Business. Over 100 students and faculty members were arrested Monday night as the community demanded NYU divests from the Tel Aviv campus. Students at Yale University were also arrested Monday, similarly demanding divestment from military weapons manufacturers with ties to Israel.
- Protests have also been held at Brown, Princeton, Northwestern, University of California, Berkeley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Emerson College, and more.
Updated Oct. 31, 12:30 p.m. EST
- Protests are continuing in Washington, D.C., with demonstrators calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. On Tuesday, protesters interrupted U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during a Senate hearing, repeatedly yelling "Ceasefire now" when he attempted to speak.
- Secretary Blinken and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin are testifying about the White House's national security funding request of $106 billion, which includes $14.3 billion to Israel's military efforts.
- Capitol police arrested 12 people for illegally protesting inside the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
What’s the story?
- At least 300 people have been arrested near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., during a protest against the Israel-Hamas war.
- The number is expected to rise as the full amount of arrests are processed and counted for, authorities said.
- Most were arrested inside the Cannon House Office, which occupies congressional staffers and does not allow protests. Three people were charged with assaulting an officer.
What were the protests calling for?
- The protestors are urging President Joe Biden and Congress to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
- The rally was held by two left-wing Jewish advocacy groups, Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now. Both are fighting against the State of Israel. Demonstrators wore shirts that read “Jews say ceasefire now” and “Not in our name.” The American Jewish organizations are heavily criticizing the government’s lack of action to help the Palestinian people.
- One protester at the Capitol said into a megaphone:
“Equality, Justice, and Freedom. The only way towards true safety…is to de-escalate, and address the root cause of this horrific violence.”
- Organizers sang in both Hebrew and English. Many expressed their anger at the blast at the hospital in Gaza, which killed hundreds.
Police actions
- The police closed streets around the Capitol on Wednesday in anticipation of the large protests.
- Capitol police forces said Wednesday afternoon:
“We warned the protesters to stop demonstrating and when they did not comply we began arresting them.”
- Police were seen restraining protesters with zip ties.
For more information…
Stay up to date on the war:
- The Latest Updates
- Israel-Gaza War: What People Are Saying
- Hate Crimes Grow Worldwide in Response to Israel-Gaza War
- Tension Grows Between Israel and Hezbollah
- Spread of Misinformation Online and Hatred in Israel-Gaza War
- Murder of Palestinian-American Boy Amid Global Hate Crimes
- A Guide to the Israel-Palestine Conflict
- How to Help Victims and Civilians in the Israel-Gaza War
Should the U.S. call for a ceasefire in Gaza?
-Jamie Epstein
(Photo credit: Jewish Voice for Peace)
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Sure, sure arrest the peaceful demonstrators chanting but nothing was done to 1-6 to protestors defacing the Capitol, injuring people and threatening to kill politicians till weeks, months, years later.
"...estimate of property damage due to the January 6 Capitol riot to $2.73 million, according to a Friday court filing in the case of a man who pleaded guilty to participating in the riot, which left windows broken, doors splintered and paintings stained with pepper spray and tear gas."
"The final cost of the Capitol riot could exceed $30 million, taking into account the cost of mental health counseling for riot victims and other more indirect costs incurred by rioters, Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, told Congress in February 2021."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/zacharysmith/2022/04/08/capitol-riot-costs-go-up-government-estimates-273-million-in-property-damage/amp/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12646451/amp/Pro-Palestinian-protesters-Capitol.html
80% of any war are civilians deaths. Sad that Hamas uses it's people as shields and call for all Israel to die. The history between the Palestine and Israel, I wished it was be better, but it's not. So many lives lost because of what. If you only live to hate, you will never fine peace. Israel is justified in defending itself and so is Ukraine both are fighting for freedom and peace!
No stopping till Hamas eliminated!
Ancient conflict. Iran is on their doorstep and that is even a bigger issue.
Although Israel is one of our allies we cannot dictate to them how to conduct their governmental affairs. We could however withold aid if we felt it was necessary.
In the quest to destroy Hamas (and deservedly so) Israel is killing Palestinian citizens, mostly women & children who have nothing to do with Hamas. Hostages are still in the region, some are Americans. For the love of God, call a ceasefire!
Begin peace talks or find a strategic way to target Hamas & get rid of them once and for all (with little or no civilian casualties).
So with all the people entering into pead agreement against Rico charges, will Judge Aileen Cannon end up being caught up in this as well ????? With the slow walking?
Pure and simple Israel is commiting war crimes. Innocent citizens including children are being killed.
too bad many of the protesters arent even students!!!
many have no clue what they are fighting for Palestinan rights? Jewish hate? Pure ability to protest!!!
Desantis putting protesters on no fly lists
Bypass florida ... protest / vote with your dollars
Shame on congress
shame on justice dept
we are now officially 4th world tin pot states
Then arrest half of the jews who are protesting many silently
proclamations of antisemitism are a red herring and this lie has been broadcast amplified propagated for decades
actions speak louder than words
defund israel NOW!
PLEASE STOP FUNDING & arming this genocide!!!
A group of 13 conservative US federal judges are vowing to not hire Columbia University law students or undergraduates because of how the school has handled pro-Palestinian demonstrations on its campus in recent weeks
IMPEACH these morons! They dont deserve to be on the bench. To declare that people who protest are proven guilty summarily shows a total disregard for the rule of law
shame on the judiciary
shame on congress
wearing a flag doesn't make you patriotic?
white trash? best education they can ever get is an exchange program for one year with afghanistan, syria, iraq, libya maybe somalia?
Deport the terrorist filth
I have been rethinking this. I think the universities should divest from any product with ties to Israel. This is why any computer or technology from google, Apple, and Microsoft should be banned on these campuses.
The protesters should lead by example and give away or destroy any hardware, software, or documents they own created with one of these evil companies that help facilitate the war. Until they lead by example, the universities should not be required to do anything except arrest agitators.
being a good woke individual for these students, punishment should be set by privilege. The higher your privilege, the worse your punishment.
Yes, there should be a cease fire in Gaza so they can take two minutes out and decide if they want to continue with a war that has drug on for literally thousands of years and stop killing each other. And on another note, it's absolutely astounding to see Republicans so upset about people protesting on campuses when they could've cared less when Donald Trump's followers ransack the capital
Relieve themselves of their bowels and their urine inside offices in the tour pieces of it down and offices apart, broke windows, smash doors, clubbed police officers, and mace them in the face and led to the deaths of several people! But the Republicans could care less about that that tells you that really they could care less about America. What about that Republican leaders? What's wrong with you that you don't care about America?
We are a government of the people by the people and for the people! However, the government has been operating as the sole determinant of policy and actions. Our representatives must consider how their choices and policies impact the will of the people. This is a essential principle of our founding fathers. It also requires that the people take responsibility to select their representatives according to our Democratic values. An uninformed citizenary or those who fail to engage in our political elections risk the destruction of our democracy.
We the people have an obligation to remove any politician from office who disregards or fails to accept the will of the people. Our people, the international community and laws all indicate that the war in Gaza and the violations against the Palestinians must end. A price in consequences for not doing so will result in more devastating and terrible suffering.
We need to stop killing children in Gaza
Brown University and Northwestern University have successfully negotiated with students unlike other universities. If I was looking for a university to attend Brown and Northwestern Unuversity would be at top of my list for listening and engaging with students.
Don't think other universities even tried to negotiate but instead opted to dictate out of fear for their jobs and the new McCarthyidm in Congress no doubt fueled by AIPAC campaign contributions.
Brown wins the award for thinking outside the box to solve the problem.?Abd students are learning important skills in negotiating that they can use throughout their lives.
"At Brown, a Rare Agreement Between Administrators and Protesters"
"Brown students took down their tents on campus after the university in Rhode Island agreed to discuss their demands for divestment from support for the Israeli military."
"Demonstrators agreed to dismantle their encampment at Brown, which had been removed by Tuesday evening, and university leaders said they would discuss, and later vote on, divesting funds from companies connected to the Israeli military campaign in Gaza."
" The agreement lays out a series of steps for the months ahead:"
"In May, five students will meet with five members of the Corporation of Brown University to argue for divesting funds from companies connected to the Israeli military."
"In September, Brown’s advisory committee on resource management will be expected to advise the university on the same issue."
"In October, the committee’s recommendation will be brought to the corporation for a vote."
" Although the encampment will end, organizing to ensure that the Brown administration fulfills our calls to act on divestment will continue until the corporation vote in October,” the Brown Divest Coalition said in a statement on Tuesday."
" A spokesman for Brown, Brian Clark, said that divestment was not as simple as some students might perceive, though. The university doesn’t invest its endowment directly, he said. Instead, it relies on “external specialist investment managers, all with the highest level of ethics and all whom we believe share the values of the Brown community.”
“This feels like a real moment of realizing our collective power,” said Rafi Ash, a sophomore at Brown who participated in the protests. “This is something that demonstrates that the mobilization of the student body can force the university to listen.”
"Administrators said in a statement that it would still hold disciplinary proceedings related to the encampment, which broke the university’s rules. Reports of harassment and discrimination will also be investigated, the statement said."
"Administrators and student activists at Northwestern University struck a similar deal on Monday."
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/30/us/brown-divestment-deal.html
Calling Jews occupiers and colonialists is absurd, factually and historically. . Confusing Israel as an imperialist, colonial occupier is belied by the fact that Jews have always been, a significant proportion of the population, and in many decades, majority residents over the course of ancient and modern history. When they were not the majority, they were oppressed (raped, hanged, killed) for much of that time by their Muslim neighbors.
Jews were kicked out of Arab lands in numbers equal to the Arabs that left "Palestine" when the modern state of Israel was created in 1948. Arab countries, at the time, exhorted their Palestinian compatriots to leave "Israel" so they could be assured of killing all of the resident Jews without worrying about being caught in the violence. So they have just as much responsiblity to solve for "dispossed Palestinians" as the modern Israeli government does in not actively solving for a two state solution.
Current and prior Netanyahu administrations are to be blamed for many issues including fostering Hamas at the PLO's expense, delegitimizing and weakenng any non-jihadist Palestinian policiticans, effectively leaving no legitimate "other side" to negotiate a peaceful two state solution. Hamas needs to leave/be kicked out of Gaza, the hostages freed and the Netanyahu government voted out of office. Then, we can have a ceasefire.
Calling for Palestine to be "freed from the river to the sea" is an ahistorically racist and anti-semitic chant by ignorant kids conflating collonialism with other world issues.
Their prime minister is attempting to do to Gaza residents what the Nazi did to Jews. I resent every cent of my tax dollars going to them. I wish this money would go to aid for Gaza residents
Did Israel call for a ceasefire after 9 11 when the US bombed the hell out of Iraq and Afganistan?
you don't stop protesting being heavy handed
Yes. And our Reps and Senators should sto[p accepting checks from AIPAC as well!
Furthermore, Bibi is corrupt as they come and when he was reinstated into power there were protests all over Isarel because of his corruption and the fact that he was going to use all the right wing regime's tools to get away with it....and then suddenly HAMAS attacked Israel. Hamas, whom Netanyahu had funded in the past. And then suddenly, the attention of Isarel was diverted.
I don't believe in coincidence when it comes to despots, just like I don't (and never did) believe in the Tooth Fairy.
Not our fight. Hamas is ruthless and will not stop until Israel no longer exists. Palestine knows what side they are on, and it is not Israel. Plus Palestine and Hamas hates America.
It's not like Israel began this bloodbath. It was Hamas, that said Israel has taken it too far. These people need to learn to live together like the people in America. I am truly astounded to watch right wing Republican idiots like Taylor Green speaker Johnson freaking out over the student protest. While in fact, they could've cared less the Trump lead assault on the capital defaced in the American building, totally with them, quite literally pissing and crapping in the building aside from the fact that they smash windows and beat people have to death, but that's OK with the Republican party. I believe that the Republican party was torn down and reinvented into a party full of sanity. A lot of this crap in the world wouldn't happen. The students have a right to protest not to be violent. And the Republicans have a responsibility to see violence and protest for what it is and the riot at the capital was nothing other than assault on American freedom. Wake up Republicans look at what your leaders are doing. They're tearing this country down.
These college students are absolutely clueless! Hamas attacked Israel. Israel is justified in insuring Hamas is destroyed. The Pallestinians voted in Hamas as their governing body. Now, Hamas is shielding themselves by forcing civilians to remain in harm's way. This is pure evil. Again, Israel deserved to eliminate Hamas. College students are willing to protest for just about anything. If they put this much effort into a quality education, our nation would be much better off.
Not just Gaza, but the entire world. Nuculear testing should also be a "no-no". Monitor climate change and sisemic activity and see what happens. All this political "Game playing" needs to come to a halt and to hell with corporate profit margin as well as the power mad control freaks out there wanting to show off their vanity. We need strong leadership that will take care of it's own territory and not attempt to take over the world and the average people that live in it.