Violent assaults on students’ pro-Palestinian protests have reignited the debate on police brutality

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Protests against the Gaza conflict have expanded to college campuses worldwide following the arrest of Columbia University students late April, evoking memories of historical student demonstrations met with similar resistance.

Similar to past demonstrators, students participating in current protests, facing arrests and suspensions for erecting encampments in solidarity with Palestinians, have faced criticism from politicians. At Columbia, for instance, protesters occupying a building were forcibly removed by police, sparking potential expulsions for involved students.

Despite challenges, the protests have gained momentum, albeit not yet reaching the scale of past movements. Differences in tactics are noted — while protests in the 1960s often turned violent, recent demonstrations have largely remained peaceful. Nonetheless, recent actions, such as barricading buildings at Columbia, indicate a potential escalation.

Opposition to the protests have been vocal, with concerns raised about antisemitic incidents and disruptions on campus. However, Jewish students have also participated in the largely peaceful demonstrations, presenting a complex picture of campus activism.

The university setting has long been a catalyst for political activism, fostering critical thinking and social awareness among students. However, the swift suppression of today’s protests raises concerns about the erosion of free speech protections and potential consequences for broader student dissent. Anti-war demonstrations at several U.S. universities ceased early May following negotiations between school authorities and pro-Palestinian protesters. 

These deals typically entail commitments from universities to review their investments in Israel or consider ceasing business operations with the country, a long-time U.S. ally. Many protester demands have focused on severing ties with entities linked to the Israeli military amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

At the University of California, Riverside, an agreement was reached to close the campus encampment, with discussions initiated about the university’s endowment investments. This decision contrasts with the broader university system’s opposition to boycotts and divestments targeting Israel.

Following a tense 24 hours, confrontations erupted on May 2 as police made arrests at various universities including Fordham University’s Manhattan campus, the University of Texas at Dallas, Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and Tulane University in New Orleans. The campus unrest resulted in more than 2,800 arrested or detained across numerous academic institutions as of May 10, as reported by The New York Times.

So here’s my take, the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment’s Free Speech Clause prohibits government restrictions on speech, except for specific categories of unprotected speech. These include defamation, fraud, obscenity, speech integral to criminal conduct, incitement of violence, true threats, and child sexual abuse material. None of these protests have incited any violence other than that which arose out of police/government interference. 

From what I’ve seen, these violent assaults on peaceful protesters have reignited the debate on police brutality and underscored a widespread lack of awareness about political issues. Many university students have voiced their opposition to the brutality, not necessarily due to their stance on the war, but rather because their right to peaceful protest has been infringed upon. 

Does this appear biased? Absolutely. The need for personal experience to recognize the brutality of the world speaks volumes in itself. With casualties mounting in Gaza and no clear resolution in sight, the ramifications of these protests extend beyond university campuses, reflecting broader societal divisions and international concerns.

“Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law,” President Joe Biden said in a speech on May 2. 

“Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations — none of this is a peaceful protest. Threatening people, intimidating people, instilling fear in people is not peaceful protest.  It’s against the law. Dissent is essential to democracy.  But dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others so students can finish the semester and their college education.”

Matt Duss, formerly a foreign policy adviser to Senator Bernie Sanders, the democratic socialist from Vermont, spoke about Biden’s decision and said “he chose to amplify a right-wing caricature,” The New York Times reported. 

“Unfortunately, it’s consistent with an overall policy approach that shows little regard for Palestinian perspectives or Palestinian lives,” Duss said to The New York Times. I couldn’t agree more.