Harvard Raises Palestinian Flag Amid Growing Protests at U.S. Universities
Pro-Palestine protests that started at Columbia University more than a week ago have now spread widely across U.S. college campuses. These protests have gained momentum, leading to police crackdowns and arrests over the past weekend. With about 275 people detained at various universities.
Top 10 Points on Pro-Palestine Protests in the U.S.:
Harvard Raises Palestinian Flag
- Protests emerged in response to Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas, gaining traction over the weekend as police enforcement continued. The protests have extended to several campuses across the country.
- At Harvard University, protesters raised a Palestinian flag at a location usually designated for the U.S. flag. Additionally, a large Palestinian flag was displayed from a high-floor window at the Washington Hilton Hotel, where the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is held.
- Police made around 275 arrests across four different universities, including 100 arrests at Northeastern University in Boston, 80 at Washington University in St. Louis, 72 at Arizona State University, and 23 at Indiana University.
- Tensions escalated at UCLA, where pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators clashed. A tent encampment was established at the campus last week
- The White House has noted the protests, with President Joe Biden emphasizing that they should remain peaceful.
- Student activists are advocating for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict and are urging universities to cut ties with Israel and companies benefiting from the conflict in Gaza.
- University officials are grappling with the challenge of maintaining free speech while managing accusations of anti-Semitism and hate speech at the protests.
- President Biden spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, reinforcing his position regarding a possible invasion of the Gaza border city of Rafah.
- The Israel-Hamas conflict began after a large-scale attack by Hamas on Israeli towns on October 7, resulting in about 1,170 casualties and approximately 250 hostages taken.
- Israel’s counter-offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 3,400 deaths since then.
