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What do pro-Palestinian student protesters at US universities want? What do pro-Palestinian student protesters at US universities want?
(about 16 hours later)
Dozens of college campuses across the US have been taken over by students protesting against the war in Gaza.Dozens of college campuses across the US have been taken over by students protesting against the war in Gaza.
More than a thousand demonstrators have been arrested, including more than 100 on Tuesday night at Columbia University in New York City. More than a thousand demonstrators have been arrested, as universities struggle to deal with encampments, days before graduation ceremonies.
Many universities are struggling to deal with encampments on college grounds, just days before graduation ceremonies. Police moved in to clear several on Wednesday. In Los Angeles, officers have started to dismantle protesters' barricades at UCLA after encircling the campus.
Follow police raid in UCLA happening now
Why are students protesting over the war in Gaza?Why are students protesting over the war in Gaza?
Since the 7 October attack by Hamas and Israel's retaliatory assault, students have launched rallies, sit-ins, hunger strikes and, most recently, encampments against the war.Since the 7 October attack by Hamas and Israel's retaliatory assault, students have launched rallies, sit-ins, hunger strikes and, most recently, encampments against the war.
They are demanding that their schools, many with massive endowments, financially divest from Israel.They are demanding that their schools, many with massive endowments, financially divest from Israel.
Divestment means to sell off stock in Israeli companies, or to otherwise drop financial ties.Divestment means to sell off stock in Israeli companies, or to otherwise drop financial ties.
Student activists say that companies doing business in Israel, or with Israeli organisations, are complicit in its ongoing war in Gaza - as are colleges investing in those companies.Student activists say that companies doing business in Israel, or with Israeli organisations, are complicit in its ongoing war in Gaza - as are colleges investing in those companies.
University endowments fund everything from research labs to scholarship funds, mostly using returns from millions - and billions - of dollars in investments.University endowments fund everything from research labs to scholarship funds, mostly using returns from millions - and billions - of dollars in investments.
Why are Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza?Why are Israel and Hamas fighting in Gaza?
What happened at Columbia University? What is happening at UCLA?
During a police raid on Tuesday night, officers cleared the encampment and removed protesters from an academic building they had taken over. Hundreds of police officers are at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA), telling pro-Palestinian protesters to disperse or face arrest.
Officers in riot gear climbed ladders to enter the second storey of Hamilton Hall, before taking occupants away in police buses. They have surrounded the campus and started taking down barricades put up by protesters at the encampment.
Some 119 people were arrested at Columbia Tuesday night, John Chell, chief of patrol for the NYPD, said Wednesday. Chell said it remains unclear how many of those individuals were students and how many were "outside agitators". BBC reporters at the scene say protesters locked arms and took up makeshift riot gear and hard hats as busloads more police arrived.
It began earlier this month. As Columbia president Minouche Shafik testified before Congress about antisemitism on campus, hundreds of students pitched tents on the Upper Manhattan campus. A day earlier there was violence when masked pro-Israel protesters attacked the pro-Palestinian camp.
The police were criticised by the California governor for not intervening early enough to help.
Why did these protests start?
It began earlier this month, as the president of Columbia University in New York City testified before Congress about antisemitism on campus.
Hundreds of students pitched tents on the Upper Manhattan campus and the police moved in a day later, sparking a wave of action at more colleges across the US.
In-person classes at Columbia were cancelled but the protests continued, eventually moving into an academic building.
How police raid at Columbia ignited protests nationwideHow police raid at Columbia ignited protests nationwide
Mass arrests the following day failed to prevent the protests from continuing and they sparked action at more colleges across the US. In-person classes at Columbia were cancelled. The police were called in again due to vandalism and risks to public safety, the university said.
Talks to resolve the dispute broke down and when the occupation spread to a university building, the police were called in again. More than 100 arrests were made as both building and encampment were cleared.
The university said the hall had been vandalised and blockaded and the police would remain until mid-May to prevent further encampments.
Watch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the USWatch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the US
Watch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the USWatch: See how Gaza campus protests spread across the US
What happened at UCLA?
Tensions flared at the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) Tuesday night when a group of counter-protesters charged at pro-Palestinian protesters gathered at the school's encampment.
During the clash, counter-protesters attacked some of the demonstrators with sticks and bats. They attempted to tear down barricades within the encampment. Police were slow to respond to the violence, protesters said.
While the university said the encampment was an illegal gathering, school officials chose not to involve law enforcement because it was a "largely peaceful" demonstration.
The violent overnight clash however did lead UCLA officials to cancel classes Wednesday.
Where else are students protesting?Where else are students protesting?
The escalating crisis at Columbia inspired similar protests and encampments across the country, including:The escalating crisis at Columbia inspired similar protests and encampments across the country, including:
Northeast region: George Washington; Brown; Yale; Harvard; Emerson; NYU; Georgetown; American; University of Maryland; Johns Hopkins; Tufts; Cornell; University of Pennsylvania; Princeton; Temple; Northeastern; MIT; The New School; University of Rochester; University of PittsburghNortheast region: George Washington; Brown; Yale; Harvard; Emerson; NYU; Georgetown; American; University of Maryland; Johns Hopkins; Tufts; Cornell; University of Pennsylvania; Princeton; Temple; Northeastern; MIT; The New School; University of Rochester; University of Pittsburgh
West Coast: California State Polytechnic, Humboldt; University of Southern California; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Berkeley; University of WashingtonWest Coast: California State Polytechnic, Humboldt; University of Southern California; University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Berkeley; University of Washington
Midwest region: University of Wisconsin; Northwestern; Washington University in St Louis; Indiana University; University of Michigan; Ohio State; University of Minnesota; Miami University; University of Ohio; Columbia College Chicago; University of ChicagoMidwest region: University of Wisconsin; Northwestern; Washington University in St Louis; Indiana University; University of Michigan; Ohio State; University of Minnesota; Miami University; University of Ohio; Columbia College Chicago; University of Chicago
The South: Tulane; Emory; Vanderbilt; University of North Carolina, Charlotte; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Kennesaw State; Florida State; Virginia Tech; University of Georgia, AthensThe South: Tulane; Emory; Vanderbilt; University of North Carolina, Charlotte; University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Kennesaw State; Florida State; Virginia Tech; University of Georgia, Athens
Southwest: University of Texas at Austin; Rice; Arizona StateSouthwest: University of Texas at Austin; Rice; Arizona State
Pro-Palestinian protesters have also gathered over the past week on university campuses in Australia, Canada, France, Italy and the UK.Pro-Palestinian protesters have also gathered over the past week on university campuses in Australia, Canada, France, Italy and the UK.
How have universities handled the protests?How have universities handled the protests?
Some are negotiating with student activists while others are issuing ultimatums that have led to police being called in.Some are negotiating with student activists while others are issuing ultimatums that have led to police being called in.
The latest round of arrests on Wednesday were made in Wisconsin at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where some 10 people were arrested and in New Orleans, Louisiana, where 14 people were arrested. An agreement was reached between Northwestern University near Chicago and protesters which limits the size of the encampment.
But an agreement was reached between Northwestern University and protesters which limits the size of the encampment.
Another agreement was reached at Brown University where school officials agreed to hold a vote on divestment in October in exchange for students removing the encampment.Another agreement was reached at Brown University where school officials agreed to hold a vote on divestment in October in exchange for students removing the encampment.
Crackdown or compromise? A tale of two protests
National politicians have called on colleges to do more, highlighting reports of antisemitism at some of these protests.National politicians have called on colleges to do more, highlighting reports of antisemitism at some of these protests.
Jewish students at several campuses have told the BBC about incidents that made them feel uncomfortable or fearful.Jewish students at several campuses have told the BBC about incidents that made them feel uncomfortable or fearful.
These ranged from chants and signs supporting Hamas, a proscribed terror group, to physical altercations and perceived threats.These ranged from chants and signs supporting Hamas, a proscribed terror group, to physical altercations and perceived threats.
Has protesting worked?Has protesting worked?
Pro-Palestinian campus groups have for years called on their institutions to support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, as a means of pushing back against Israel.Pro-Palestinian campus groups have for years called on their institutions to support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, as a means of pushing back against Israel.
No US university has ever committed to the BDS framework, although some have cut specific financial ties in the past.No US university has ever committed to the BDS framework, although some have cut specific financial ties in the past.
While divestment would have a negligible impact, if any, on the war in Gaza, protesters say it would shed light on those who profit from war and help build awareness of their issue.While divestment would have a negligible impact, if any, on the war in Gaza, protesters say it would shed light on those who profit from war and help build awareness of their issue.
Why are students recalling protests over Vietnam war?Why are students recalling protests over Vietnam war?
Activists at Columbia and elsewhere have highlighted the protests at the end of the 1960s against US involvement in the Vietnam War.Activists at Columbia and elsewhere have highlighted the protests at the end of the 1960s against US involvement in the Vietnam War.
Thousands were arrested and there were violent clashes with police.Thousands were arrested and there were violent clashes with police.
Four students in Ohio were killed in 1970 when the National Guard opened fire.Four students in Ohio were killed in 1970 when the National Guard opened fire.
Their deaths triggered a nationwide student strike and hundreds of universities closed.Their deaths triggered a nationwide student strike and hundreds of universities closed.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Israel-Gaza warIsrael-Gaza war
StudentsStudents
United StatesUnited States