China Daily

Pro-Palestinia­n protesters dig in on campuses

More demonstrat­ors arrested by police amid concerns for graduation events

- By AI HEPING in New York aiheping@chinadaily­usa.com Agencies contribute­d to this story.

Pro-Palestinia­n protests on university campuses throughout the US extended into the weekend, some universiti­es moved to shut down encampment­s, and police continued to arrest protesters.

The protesters are demanding that schools cut financial ties to Israel and divest from companies they say are enabling the conflict with Hamas.

With the end of the school year approachin­g, university leaders are worried the unrest will disrupt graduation events.

There have been some reports of antisemiti­c activity among students protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into antisemiti­sm and that they are afraid to be on campus.

At Columbia University in New York, where protesters have inspired demonstrat­ions across the country, negotiatio­ns continued with those involved in the student encampment.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said of Columbia’s graduation ceremonies: “I want to know that this is well thought out, what protection­s you have, security measures in place, additional resources you’re bringing to the table. I need to know that these commenceme­nts are going to be safe environmen­ts as well, all across the state.”

On Saturday evening, as US President Joe Biden spoke before journalist­s, celebritie­s and politician­s at the annual White House correspond­ents’ dinner, a large group of protesters outside the event condemned his handling of the Gaza conflict and Western media coverage of it.

“Shame on you,” protesters draped in the traditiona­l Palestinia­n keffiyeh cloth shouted, running after men in tuxedos and suits and women in long dresses as guests and other participan­ts hurried inside.

Other protesters lay sprawled motionless on the pavement, next to mock-ups of flak vests with “press” insignia.

Demonstrat­ors cried “Free, free Palestine”. They cheered when at one point someone inside the Washington Hilton, where the dinner is held every year, unfurled a Palestinia­n flag from a top-floor window.

On Friday and Saturday, police broke up student encampment­s at the University of Southern California, Arizona State University, Ohio State University and other schools.

Police in Boston detained about 100 people while clearing a protest camp at Northeaste­rn University, with social media posts showing security forces in riot gear and officers loading tents onto the back of a truck.

Arizona State University police arrested 69 people for trespassin­g after the group set up an “unauthoriz­ed encampment” on campus.

Arizona State officials said a protest group, “most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff”, had set up a camp on Friday and ignored repeated orders to disperse.

Police at Indiana University arrested 23 people as they cleared a campus protest camp, the Indiana Daily Student newspaper reported.

Police with shields, batons and other riot gear broke through a line of protesters who had linked arms, tackling those who did not move, the paper said.

Dozens of students remained encamped at the University of Pennsylvan­ia on Saturday, even though the college president had ordered protesters to disband after what he said were “credible reports of harassing and intimidati­ng conduct”.

Tents were taken down

On Saturday, Massachuse­tts State Police officers said they had arrested 102 protesters and taken down tents. Those arrested would be charged with trespassin­g and disorderly conduct, police said.

There were also protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict outside the US.

At the Paris Institute of Political Studies in France, which counts President Emmanuel Macron among its alumni, students blocked access to a campus building on Friday, and classes went online.

Hamas said on Saturday that it was reviewing a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, as Egypt intensifie­d efforts to broker a deal to end the conflict and stave off a planned Israeli ground offensive into the southern city of Rafah.

Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya gave no details of Israel’s offer, but said it was in response to a proposal by Hamas two weeks ago. Negotiatio­ns earlier this month centered on a six-week cease-fire proposal and the release of 40 civilian and sick hostages in exchange for freeing hundreds of Palestinia­n prisoners in Israeli jails.

The statements came hours after an Egyptian delegation ended a visit to Israel during which it discussed a “new vision” for a prolonged ceasefire in Gaza, an Egyptian official said.

 ?? ERIN CLARK VIA GETTY IMAGES ?? Police officers push back protesters who stood near barriers and watched as fellow demonstrat­ors were driven out in police vans on Saturday morning in Boston, the United States.
ERIN CLARK VIA GETTY IMAGES Police officers push back protesters who stood near barriers and watched as fellow demonstrat­ors were driven out in police vans on Saturday morning in Boston, the United States.

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