From Campus to Capitol: The Nationwide Protests Surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Protests are continuing to break out at universities across the country, with multiple demonstrations taking place in solidarity with the protesters at Columbia University. One such protest occurred at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York, where dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters occupied the campus in support of their fellow demonstrators. Some rioters were masked and some were arrested, but their message was clear: they were standing up for what they believed in.

At George Washington University in Washington D.C., President Alan Granberg took a different stance on the protests. He stated that placing the protest tent of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators in the public area of the campus violated university policy, and he turned to the police for help in evacuating the complex. Meanwhile, a demonstration of support for Israel took place at Columbia University, with demonstrators gathering in front of the pro-Palestinian protest tent and waving US and Israeli flags. They called for “return all abductees home,” a reference to Israeli soldiers who have been held captive by Hamas for years.

The protests continued at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where chaotic scenes unfolded as protesters clashed with police while attempting to storm and occupy a building on campus. Pellet balls and tear gas were deployed as students who supported Hamas clashed with those who opposed it. At UCLA in California, anti-Israel demonstrations were also reported, with clashes between students who supported Hamas and those who opposed it taking place on campus. Anti-Israel demonstrations were also reported at Penn State in Pennsylvania and Temple University in Philadelphia.

The ongoing tensions and conflicts surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are clearly evident on college campuses across the country, with different student groups holding varying views on the situation. These protests highlight