Source: Global Times
Student protests in solidarity with Palestine on a large scale on many university campuses in the United States have continued to ferment for several days. As demonstrations swept through some of America's most influential universities, police moved quickly to arrest students who had participated in the protests. In response to the students' demands for a ceasefire in Gaza, some American politicians have labeled the protesting students "anti-Semitic." Johnson, speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, came to Columbia University in New York (Columbia), the birthplace of this wave of protests, on the 24th local time, and he warned that the National Guard would be dispatched (to deal with students). Texas Governor Abbott has threatened to put all protesters "in jail." In this regard, even the New York Times could not help but ask: "Does the strict control of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on American college campuses mean the end of free speech?"
There were fierce clashes on university campuses
On the afternoon of the 24th, Speaker of the US House of Representatives Johnson and many Republican lawmakers came to Columbia University, the center of this round of student protests. Perhaps fearing being protested by protesting students, CNN said Johnson had invited some Jewish students to a meeting. He then joined other lawmakers in addressing students on the steps in front of Columbia University's library.
On the 24th local time, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Johnson warned protesting students at Columbia University, announcing that the National Guard would be dispatched. (AFP)
Johnson said he had met with Columbia President Shafiq and other senior university executives and urged immediate action to address the campus unrest. "My feeling is that they haven't taken concrete action to restore order on campus. "We cannot allow this hatred and anti-Semitism to flourish on our campuses and must be stopped." Those people should be arrested. Johnson also warned that the National Guard would be deployed, "and we intend to call President Biden after we leave here, tell him what we saw with our own eyes, and ask him to take action, which is also the appropriate executive authority." If the situation cannot be brought under control quickly, then the National Guard should be mobilized at an opportune time. ”
According to the Washington Post, as Johnson spoke, there were bursts of boos from student protesters in the audience, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans, including "Free Palestine" and "Stop Genocide." There were also students who shouted "get out of our campus" at Johnson. Johnson stopped his speech and said angrily, "Enjoy your freedom of speech." When Johnson finished his speech, the students booed again and began chanting, "Mike, you're too inferior!"
In contrast to Columbia, student protests at the University of Texas at Austin were "violently clash and physical" due to mass police arrests. According to the Austin Chronicle, at 11:40 a.m. on the 24th, hundreds of students gathered peacefully in front of the UCA gymnasium, chanting "Free Palestine" and waving Palestinian flags. Later, a group of police officers dressed in riot gear, as well as mounted police officers on horseback and waving batons, rushed into the protesters.
Even a man who was apparently a television camera reporter was knocked to the ground by police, while another reporter was bleeding profusely, the report said. According to the report, the man was later identified as a videographer for Fox 7 Austin Channel. The video shows the man holding a camera as he was slammed backwards to the ground by a police officer, and Fox 7 confirmed that the cameraman had been arrested. Another Texas journalist was also knocked down, bleeding profusely.
In this regard, Texas Governor Abbott posted on the social platform X on the 24th: "These protesters should be put in jail, antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas." He added, "Students who engage in hateful antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled." He also said strongly at an event that day that the arrests of pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the University of Texas would continue "until the protests disperse."
On the 24th, student protests also broke out at almost all other well-known universities in the United States. At the University of Southern California, police stormed the school and arrested 93 students.
"Intimidation and repression" will only escalate the conflict
Regarding the US police entering college campuses to suppress protesting students, University of Texas student Urquhart said that the police action was an "overreaction" and that the protests "should have remained peaceful" if the police had not intervened forcefully. "I think there will be more demonstrations as a result of these arrests," he told the Associated Press.
At the same time, some left-wing lawmakers also strongly opposed the police crackdown on peaceful protests by students. Austin City Councilman Fuentes posted on social media platform X: "Intimidation and suppression of peaceful protests is an unnecessary escalation. We should be explained why such extreme actions were taken to silence protesters who appeared to be peaceful. Democratic Rep. Kasar also criticized the police for overreacting to student protesters in a post on social media platform X. "Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fundamental constitutional rights. Whether you agree with these student protesters or not, they have a right to safety and fairness. Dealing with peaceful demonstrations with weapons and riot gear can increase tensions and make everyone more insecure. ”
"Youth and Anger"
"Youth and Anger: Pro-Palestinian Protests at Elite American Universities", Russia's "Izvestia" reported on the 25th with this title, on the campuses of major American universities, protests in solidarity with Palestine continued to spread, and demonstrations in some universities were accompanied by fierce clashes. This wave of protests by college students is a new social phenomenon. Similar mass student protests occurred only during the U.S. invasion of Vietnam. The Biden administration's actions in favor of Israel have created new divisions in American society, which often lead to confrontation. There has been a split even within the Democratic Party, with some left-wing Democratic lawmakers siding with the protesters, the report said. It also embarrassed Biden, who feared that angering the younger generation would cost him more votes.
Perhaps it is with this in mind that Biden's attitude has shifted. On the 24th, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press conference: "The President believes that free speech, debate, and non-discrimination on college campuses are important. "We believe that people can express themselves in a peaceful way." Previously, Biden had claimed that "antisemitism" "has absolutely no place on college campuses or anywhere in the United States."
Former U.S. President Donald Trump took the opportunity to blame the chaos caused by these protests as "Biden's fault." Trump said on the 23rd, "What is happening in colleges and universities...... is a disgrace to the United States". He said that Biden was neither "a friend of Israel" nor "a friend of the Arab world" and that "he wanted to take a middle ground...... It's definitely not going to work."
In an interview with The Associated Press, Rodriguez, a 23-year-old Columbia student, said that any U.S. politician who supports aid to Israel is responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians. "They are directly complicit in the genocide unless they can publicly call for an end to [Israel's] practices," he said. ”