Tensions build up at American universities over protests in support of Palestine

Tensions build up at American universities over protests in support of Palestine.

As reported, tension exists between the administration of several American universities and the students protesting in support of Palestine, many classes have been cancelled and the protesters have been arrested

The protests at Columbia University in the City of New York started last week, where many student protesters established “Gaza solidarity camps” on the university grounds.

On Monday, those tensions extended to midtown Manhattan, where the NYU campus is based, and to the Yale campus in New Haven, Connecticut.

Classes have been moved online, while Colombia University president Nimat Shafiq called for a ‘reset’ in an open letter to the school community.

Minouche Shafik said that there have been many incidents of threatening and harassing behaviour on our campuses during the past few days.

On April 18, more than 100 protesters were arrested last week after the university administration called the police, which led to more protests over the weekend.

60 people, including at least 47 student protesters, were arrested from Yale for trespassing after they blocked traffic around campus, according to a statement by Yale University President Peter Salovey on Monday.

Several protesters were also arrested from NYU. On Monday night, NYU released a statement saying, “The police urged those on the plaza to leave peacefully, but ultimately made several arrests.”

Joseph Hawley, an associate professor at Columbia University, said the university made a ‘misstep’ by involving the police in the case, which attracted more radical elements, which are not part of the student protests.

He said that you cannot discipline and punish to get rid of bigotry and differences in the community