Across the United States, universities have become focal points for demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war.
Today, students at Columbia University in New York barricaded a building on campus – further fuelling tensions as they demand their university divests financially from Israel.
While many of the protests against the war by students have been peaceful, some have descended into chaos.
Riot police pepper sprayed students at the University of Texas and arrested dozens, as Texas state governor Greg Abbott said ‘no encampments will be allowed’.
The demonstrations have been ongoing for months as students attempt to stop university support for Israel, and oppose US funding for Israeli weapons.
But others have said these protests are reminiscent of the Vietnam War protests – which erupted in the early 1970s – and led to the end of combat operations in Vietnam and a suspension of the draft. Could these have a similar effect?
When did the protests start, and where are they happening?
Protests have been a regular occurrence at American universities since the start of the war on October 7 – but became more widespread this past month.
The protests became more intense when the New York City Police Department entered the student encampment at Columbia University to conduct mass arrests on April 17.
On April 22, more universities across the east coast – New York University, Emerson College, MIT, Yale and Tufts – began encampment protests in response to the arrests of other students at Columbia.
Emerson College, the University of Southern California, The University of North Carolina and the University of Texas have all seen massive crackdowns on their own student demonstrations.
They’ve also spread overseas – students in Paris were dragged away in handcuffs during a demonstration this past week.
What are the protesters demanding?
The reasons behind the protest vary slightly, but overall agree that the US should end military support to Israel.
Some university students, such as those at Columbia, are demanding their schools sever any financial ties to Israel and other companies involved directly in the conflict.
Mass arrests have led to calls for amnesty of students and faculty who are disciplined for their involvement in the protests.
Source: Metro UK