From Ivy League campuses to public universities, a wave of pro-Palestine protests has swept across the US, with over 2,000 arrests reported since mid-April. Students at 50+ schools have erected tent encampments demanding action for Gaza – but escalating tensions with police are sparking nationwide debates about free speech and safety. 🎓🚨
Peaceful Protests or Public Nuisance?
\"Our camps are chill spaces – the cops keep making it worse,\" one New York protester told CGTN, claiming authorities initiated clashes. Another student pushed back: \"I support Palestinian rights, but disrupting campuses isn't the way.\"
From Columbia to California
Following mass arrests at Columbia University, the movement went viral across time zones. AP data shows arrests spanning from New York to Texas and California, with schools like NYU and USC becoming flashpoints. Police say they're enforcing trespassing laws; protesters argue they're fighting for human rights. ⚖️
As exams approach, universities walk a tightrope between protecting speech and maintaining order – with no clear endgame in sight. 📢📚
