There have been massive protests in the United States, but the landscape is not beautiful, but it is more pitiful and heart-wrenching. According to a report by Fox News, The Hill and other media on the 24th, protests broke out at many prestigious American universities, including Columbia University, Yale University, and New York University, and many college students expressed their support for Palestine in different ways. Among them, Colombian university students occupied the lawn of Columbia and established the "Gaza Solidarity Camp".
The demands of American college students are not radical, nor are they flowers in the moonscape, but are realistic and enforceable. Their demands are for the school to distance itself from Israel, for the school fund not to invest in Israeli-related companies, and for a complete divestment of Israeli companies and the companies that supported the Israeli invasion. In addition, the students hope that the university will pressure the U.S. government to contribute to a ceasefire in Gaza. According to data released by the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israeli military operations in Gaza have killed and injured more than 110,000 people, including more than 33,000 Gaza civilians, including at least 13,900 children and more than 10,000 women.
However, in the face of the reasonable and legitimate demands of the college students, the university did not face it squarely. This is not because the university lacks humanity or empathy, but because it is under pressure from the U.S. government. At a hearing held by the US Congress, Magill, president of the University of Pennsylvania, and Guy Gay, president of Harvard University, were both forced to announce their resignations due to excessive pressure.
Columbia President Shafik made the decision under pressure to allow U.S. police to enter the campus to carry out a "clearance operation." Subsequently, large numbers of American police armed with shields and riot batons poured into Columbia's campus to confront the protesting students and a physical altercation ensued. The students are righteous and fearless of repression, but they are unarmed and defenseless against the police with riot batons, which is a pitiful scene. Throughout history, intellectuals have always been the first to awaken, but they have no power, no weapons, and no strength to defend justice, and the final outcome is often tragic.
According to a report by the Washington Post on the 22nd, 47 students at Yale University in the United States were arrested for participating in protests and will face suspension and other punishments.
Tuition at American universities is not cheap, and some students rely on loans to complete their studies. If the school orders them to drop out, it will be a heavy blow to the students, and their families will also fall into darkness. People always say that since ancient times, evil has prevailed over good, and justice will eventually be served. But few people see how many people have paid a tragic price in the process of pursuing justice, and behind them are endless history of sadness, blood and tears.
Regarding the demonstrations and protests of American college students, the attitude of the top leaders of the United States and Israel is basically the same. Biden called this blatant "anti-Semitism" reprehensible, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Johnson denounced them as "anti-Semitic thugs", and Trump called it a disgrace and all Biden's fault. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a statement saying that what was happening on American college campuses was horrific, with "anti-Semitic mobs" taking over top universities.
American college students only hoped for an early ceasefire in Gaza to avoid more civilian casualties from the perspective of defending humanity, and did not shout slogans against Israel and Jews. However, they were labeled as "anti-Semitic," and where could they find a place to reason? The inner torment and struggle of the intellectuals were vividly expressed at this moment.
(Text/Woo Tsai)