From Columbia to Harvard: Why are students protesting in US universities

Protests on prestigious US college campuses amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In the past week, campuses across the United States, including prestigious institutions like Columbia, Yale, and New York University, have emerged as epicenters of intense demonstrations. (AFP photo)

These protests, orchestrated by student groups like Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace, have articulated robust demands, resulting in considerable disruptions and eliciting a substantial police response. (AFP photo)

Students at campuses where protests have erupted are demanding a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, cessation of US military aid to Israel, university divestment from companies supplying arms and profiting from the conflict, and amnesty for students and faculty facing disciplinary action or dismissal due to their participation in protests. (AFP photo)

School administrations and local law enforcement are cracking down on protests. Dozens of students have been suspended by Columbia and Barnard College. Over 100 protesters have been arrested at Columbia, where President Minouche Shafik called in the New York Police to dismantle an encampment, citing unauthorized protests. (AFP photo)

The protests, which had been brewing for months, reached a boiling point last Thursday as over 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators, who had established a camp on Columbia University's upper Manhattan campus, were arrested. Since then, multiple arrests have taken place at other academic institutions, with demonstrators often charged with trespassing or disorderly conduct. (AFP photo)

The situation also escalated at New York University, situated near Columbia. Police stated that 133 protesters were arrested late Monday, all of whom were later released with court summonses for disorderly conduct. (Reuters photo)

The ongoing demonstrations have led to a rift within the student body, with supporters of the Palestinian cause advocating for their educational institutions to condemn Israel's military operations in Gaza and divest from corporations supplying arms to Israel. (Reuters photo)

Amid intense disagreements between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups at Columbia University, law enforcement has been informed of instances where Israeli students had their flags forcefully taken from them. (Reuters photo)

Democratic US President Joe Biden, criticized by protesters for funding and arming Israel, condemned both "antisemitic protests" and those lacking understanding of the Palestinian situation. Former Republican President Donald Trump, a candidate in the 2024 election, labeled the campus protest situation "a mess" during his ongoing criminal trial in New York. (Agencies photo)

The university campuses, often regarded as microcosms of broader societal discussions, are currently leading a profound and intricate dialogue on international conflicts, human rights, and the impact of education on political awareness. (AFP photo)