More and More Elite University Students in the United States Support Palestine

The academic community is disappointed with campus administrators who are silent about Palestine-Israel. The protests spread.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP/MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO

Demonstration supporting Palestine at New York University, Monday (22/4/2024).

NEW YORK, TUESDAY — Support for the Palestine struggle is widespread at a number of universities in the United States. One of the impacts, Columbia University in New York was forced to implement online classes. This is because campus conditions are considered to make it impossible to hold face-to-face lectures in class.

Columbia University's rector, Minouche Shafik, announced the decision on Monday (22/4/2024) New York time or early Tuesday morning in Western Indonesia Time. "The security situation is not conducive to lectures. We need to rethink the values and implementation of this university," she said.

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Demonstrations also took place, among others, at New York University, University of California, Harvard University, Yale University in New York, to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). "We are not satisfied that the campus is silent about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Just calling for a ceasefire is not enough. That's why we are demonstrating," said Prahlad Iyengar, a student and protester at MIT.

We want the campus to stop accepting donations from parties involved in funding this war.

For a week now, the CU campus and various other universities have become locations for protests in support of Palestine. Protesters have set up tents in the campus area and refuse to leave.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP/MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO

Demonstration supporting Palestine at New York University, Monday (22/4/2024).

The CU management called the police to handle the protest. On Thursday (4/18), a total of 108 protesters were arrested by the police. The campus also announced that the participating students in the demonstration were suspended from their respective departments.

The campus authorities accuse the protest of developing into a disturbance. Several messages displayed during the demonstration contain elements of violence. For example, they include threats and hate speech against the Jewish community.

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Due to the approaching week of the Jewish holiday of Pesach, the campus is concerned that this may trigger acts of violence. Therefore, they have decided to hold classes online to prevent the risk of violence targeting the Jewish academic community.

According to Shafik, an emergency meeting was held by the university rectorate, faculties, and lecturers to discuss the campus' stance regarding the developments of the conflict in the Middle East. They realized that this conflict has made many people angry and disappointed.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP/MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO

Demonstration supporting Palestine at New York University, Monday (22/4/2024).

However, as an educational institution, the discussion cannot be based on only one narrative. There must be comprehensive handling based on the spirit of science. "This protest has been infiltrated by outsiders who bring different agendas than our students," said Shafik.

Demonstrator reaction

Protesters are angry with Shafik's accusations. "We are disappointed that the university and some media outlets trust others more than us, the protesting students and faculty members," said an open letter signed by the protest leaders.

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In a written letter, the demonstration aimed to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and all parties to prioritize humanity. The protest opposes all forms of discrimination against Muslims, Jews, Middle Eastern descendants, black-skinned residents, and other minority groups.

The statement also explained that the protesters came from various backgrounds, including the Jewish Student Union for Peace.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP/MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO

Demonstration supporting Palestine at New York University, Monday (22/4/2024).

They all request for Columbia University to strongly advocate for a ceasefire and peace. "We also request transparency in the list of companies or individuals who contribute to Columbia. We want the campus to stop accepting contributions from parties involved in funding this war," the letter said.

Tremendous suffering

From Surabaya, East Java, it was reported that the Chinese Consul General in Surabaya, Xu Yong, called attention to the fact that the war in Palestine has inflicted extraordinary suffering and humanitarian crisis upon the Palestinian people. "The global community wants to realize justice in Gaza. That cannot be opposed," said Xu.

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The needs of the people in Gaza cannot be postponed and the humanitarian crisis will escalate if the conflict does not subside. The Palestinian people have suffered greatly after Gaza was repeatedly bombed by the Israeli military. Humanitarian aid is often delayed and hindered by Israel's blockade.

According to Xu, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is exacerbated by the United States veto in the UN Security Council. The US rejected Palestine's application for UN membership. "But the people's (Palestine) desire cannot be opposed," he said.

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA /AFP/MICHAEL M. SANTIAGO

Demonstration supporting Palestine at New York University, Monday (22/4/2024).

China reminds the world community to respect and support the aspirations of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state. "Restoring and returning the Palestinian people to their homeland," said Xu.

"China remains on the side of justice for humanity. China firmly supports Palestine's membership in the UN," Xu said firmly. (AFP/AP)