[New York Diary] Anti-Israel Protests Spread Across U.S. College Campuses

Major universities in the United States are struggling with anti-war protests. As the war between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas drags on, clashes are occurring across college campuses between anti-Israel student protesters, school authorities, and the police. More than 400 university students have been arrested and taken into custody during police dispersals of the protests. In some areas, police have used mounted units and tear gas, sparking controversy over excessive force. The University of Southern California (USC) even canceled its graduation ceremony, citing safety concerns over tents set up by protesters as a form of demonstration.

The protests, which began on the 18th at Columbia University, have spread like wildfire beyond the East Coast to the West Coast and Washington D.C., the U.S. capital, including New York University, Yale University, and Harvard University. Although Hamas’s surprise attack was the trigger for the war, the overwhelming military response by Israel, the resulting civilian casualties in Palestine, and the United States’ unilateral pro-Israel support policy have fueled intense anti-war demonstrations. The spark was lit by Columbia University President Nemath Shafik. Recently, during a House hearing, Shafik was asked to take measures against pro-Palestinian protests and stated that anti-Semitism would not be tolerated on campus. This remark ignited tensions. Pro-Palestinian students responded by setting up tents near Shafik’s office and staging a surprise sit-in. When Shafik requested the protesters to leave, they refused, prompting her to ask the police to disperse them. However, more tents have since been erected at Columbia, and the protests are spreading nationwide.

Furthermore, students are demanding that universities sever financial ties with companies that support Israel’s war efforts. They are calling for cutting business relations, investments, and research collaborations with companies that sell weapons to Israel. The aim is to prevent Jewish capital from exerting pressure on universities.

On the other hand, concerns are growing that these movements could escalate into threats against Jewish people and anti-Semitism. The political sphere reacted immediately. Mike Johnson, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a Republican, recently visited Columbia University to condemn anti-Semitism and called for President Shafik’s resignation. Johnson stated, "The madness must stop," adding, "We cannot tolerate this kind of hatred and anti-Semitism spreading on campuses." He also warned that if the protests are not controlled, the National Guard might have to be deployed, which further fueled the spread of the protests. U.S. President Joe Biden criticized the protesters as anti-Semitic but also expressed ambiguous support for freedom of expression on college campuses. This is understandable, as the anti-war protests on campuses have emerged as a key variable in the upcoming November U.S. presidential election. With Biden and former President Donald Trump in a tight race, the U.S. administration’s support for Israel risks alienating the Democratic Party’s traditional base, including Arab Americans and younger voters. For President Biden, who is seeking re-election, this is a pressing issue.

Some observers note similarities between the current anti-war protests on campuses and the 1968 revolution. The 1968 revolution was a movement in the late 1960s in the Western world that rejected authoritarianism and the established order. At Columbia University, where the current anti-Israel protests began, students protested against the Vietnam War in April 1968. At that time, law enforcement was deployed, and hundreds of students were arrested. That year also featured a U.S. presidential election. In that election, Democratic President Lyndon Johnson, who had decided to send troops to Vietnam, announced he would not seek re-election, and Republican Richard Nixon was elected. The recent developments and impact of the anti-Israel protests on U.S. campuses inevitably draw attention to these historical parallels.