US University Convocations Overshadowed by Gaza War Anguish
Agencies
New York: American media reports indicate that college administrators nationwide are preparing for potential protests amid ongoing anger over Israeli attacks in Gaza, which recently disrupted convocation ceremonies at several major US universities.
Northeastern University and Ohio State University have seen numerous arrests in connection with these demonstrations.
With graduation season underway, pro-Palestinian students view these ceremonies as an opportunity to raise awareness about the conflict and push for divestment from Israel.
Recent disruptions, such as those at the University of Michigan and Indiana University in Bloomington, highlight the intensity of student activism. Administrators are striving to manage these protests while maintaining order, with some considering additional security measures or designated protest areas to minimize disruptions.
For the second time, police cleared a pro-Palestinian encampment from the University of Southern California’s campus on Sunday.
The university has faced ongoing unrest, exacerbated by its decision to prevent its Muslim valedictorian from speaking at graduation due to security concerns.
At Kent State University in Ohio, hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Saturday, marking 54 years since National Guard troops fired on students protesting the Vietnam War, resulting in four deaths.
At the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of Virginia, dozens were arrested on Saturday after the schools requested police intervention to remove demonstrators from campus premises.
At Vassar College, pro-Palestinian protesters dismantled their encampment following an agreement with the institution, which involves administrators reviewing a divestment proposal. Similar agreements have been reached at Brown and Northwestern universities, among others.
Police and Protesters Face-Off at UCLA in Campus Unrest Over Gaza
The University of Mississippi is investigating the behavior of at least one student after counter-protesters directed racist insults at pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The father of a slain American pro-Palestinian activist, who was killed by Israeli forces in 2003, has commended his late daughter’s college for agreeing to the demands of academic demonstrators regarding divestment from Israel in support of Palestinians.
Administrators at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, reached an agreement with pro-Palestine student protesters on Thursday. The college pledged to publicly advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and to work towards divesting from “companies that profit from gross human rights violations and/or the occupation of Palestinian territories.”
This move marks Evergreen State College as the first in the United States to fully divest from Israel following widespread student and academic rallies over the past weeks in solidarity with Palestinians and condemnation of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
Evergreen State College holds significance as the alma mater of US activist Rachel Corrie, who lost her life in 2003 while attempting to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian family’s home in Rafah, crushed by an Israeli armored bulldozer.
Craig Corrie, Rachel’s father, expressed pride in the students, faculty, and administration for addressing these concerns through dialogue and negotiation.
Despite legal challenges by Rachel’s parents against the Israeli military and the manufacturer of the bulldozer, Caterpillar Inc., the efforts were unsuccessful. In 2012, an Israeli court ruled in favor of the military and the bulldozer’s operator, a decision upheld by Israel’s Supreme Court.
The agreement reached after five hours of negotiations led to the removal of encampments and sit-ins by pro-Palestine demonstrators at Evergreen State College.
Additionally, the institution suspended approval of study abroad programs to Israel and prohibited students from traveling to the occupied territories.
Evergreen State College reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and the prevention of discrimination based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, including Jews and Palestinians.
