The student protests sweeping through many American universities, condemning the 'Israeli' aggression on Gaza, bring to mind the wave of massive demonstrations witnessed in the United States in the late 1960s and the years following the American occupation of Vietnam.
Today, it's reminiscent of yesterday when Columbia University students staged a sit-in in April 1968 on the university campus in rejection of the Vietnam War, which incurred significant human losses. Estimates vary from 966,000 to 3.8 million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians killed, with approximately 12 million refugees.
Now, 56 years later, the children and grandchildren of those students have returned to protest once again, but this time to demand an end to the war on Gaza, withdrawal of university investments from companies contributing to the aggression, and cutting cultural ties with 'Israeli' universities.
The roots of the American student activism for Palestine
The American 'Fox' website indicates that American student activism for Palestine dates back to before the Nakba in 1948, where Arab medical students and doctors in the United States formed the Anti-Zionist Palestinian Association (later known as the Palestinian National League and then the Arab National League) in 1917 to protest the Balfour Declaration, a statement by the British government calling for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine.
The group published a book against Zionism in 1921 and testified before Congress against the establishment of a Zionist state. The students struggled against both the Zionist movement and the negative portrayals of Arabs that were prevalent throughout the United States.
The Most Famous Student Protests in America
The student protests that erupted in the United States trace back to the spring of 1968, where American university students staged sit-ins both on campus and in the streets, brandishing banners of protest and anger, rejecting various issues such as the Vietnam War, the apartheid system in South Africa, or advocating for other rights, like the Civil Rights Movement which contributed to ending discrimination against African Americans.
Some of these protests, which sometimes turned violent, had profound effects on society and the American political landscape in general. They were a pivotal moment in the struggle for civil rights and social justice, impacting the workings and policies of American universities as well, according to Alhurra website.
Among the most famous American universities where protests intensified were Howard University, University of North Carolina, Harvard University, Kent State University, University of California, University of Michigan, and Columbia University.
In February 1960, North Carolina University witnessed protests led by four African American students; they protested against the segregation of lunch counters inside the Woolworth's store in Greensboro city, North Carolina. After the protests spread to cities and neighbouring states, the university administration abolished segregation.
In 1968, 1000 African American students at Howard University occupied the administration building, demanding the resignation of the university president and a curriculum focus on the history and culture of African Americans.
In the same year, Columbia University students staged a protest demanding the cancellation of their university's contract with a weapons research centre. The protesters occupied several buildings on campus for a week before around 1000 security personnel stormed the campus to evacuate them.
The Washington Post reported that more than 100 people were injured in this incident, and over 700 others were arrested, most on charges of criminal trespass and disorderly conduct. The protests continued for the rest of the semester, paralyzing the university, which ultimately decided to terminate its relationship with the defence research centre.
During a protest on April 9, 1969, students occupied a hall at Harvard University and removed all administrative personnel from the building. Police intervention led to the removal of protesters and the arrest of more than 300, but the sit-ins ultimately contributed to changes that included the establishment of an African American studies department.
On May 7, 1970, Kent State University in Ohio witnessed a tragic incident resulting in the death of 4 students and the injury of 9 others by security forces' gunfire, sparking widespread anger and nationwide strikes that forced hundreds of universities to close.
Thousands of students protested at the University of California in March 1985, objecting to the university's commercial ties with the apartheid regime in South Africa.
Police attempted to suppress the protesters and arrested 158 demonstrators, prompting 10,000 students to boycott classes in response.
The protests at the University of California ultimately led to the withdrawal of billions in investments from the apartheid government in July 1986.
In July 1986, the university's board of trustees voted to withdraw $3.1 billion from companies dealing with the apartheid government. This was the largest divestment of university investments in the country, according to the university's website.
In 2014, Harvard University witnessed solidarity protests with the 'Black Lives Matter' movement in response to police violence against African Americans.
About 16 years after the protests of 1968, university students led protests in 1984 against apartheid by pressuring their university to divest from South Africa.
In March 2019, Columbia University students organized one of the largest gatherings in New York City during a national climate change strike, with students absent from classes in over 130 cities.
The Modern Face of Student Activism
"Students for Justice in Palestine" is one of the main groups currently leading protests for Palestine across American universities, with some solidarity tents spreading across campuses in the past week.
Since October 7th, officials have banned the activity of some branches of these groups on campus, alleging that their protests, slogans, and chants violate school policies.
The president of George Washington University suspended the group's activity after students raised slogans including "Divest from Zionist genocide now," "Glory to our martyrs," and " From the river to the sea Palestine will be free." The president described some of the phrases as anti-Semitic, although students and activists say the slogans call for Palestinian liberation.
In the early 1990s, the student group resumed its efforts to support Palestine at the University of California, Berkeley, where discussions were underway about dismantling the apartheid system in South Africa, drawing parallels between the struggles of students and Palestinians.
Protests against the War on Gaza
The scene repeats itself today in universities across the United States, led by Columbia University - which spearheaded student activism in the late sixties - igniting a victory for the Palestinian cause, solidarity with its just issue, and rejection of American policy.
Since April 18th, thousands of students, along with faculty members, have been protesting at dozens of prestigious American universities such as Harvard, Yale, Columbia, and Princeton, rejecting the 'Israeli' genocide in Gaza, which has been ongoing for over 200 days, and demanding an end to the war and American support for it.
Protests continue at more than 40 universities in the United States, according to NBC News.
Authorities have arrested nearly 550 people in recent days at major American universities, as reported by Reuters.
Israeli concern
Israel expressed its concern over the activism of American university students. In a televised speech broadcasted through its account on the "X" platform last Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the pro-Palestinian protests at several American universities as horrific.
Netanyahu stated: 'What is happening in American universities is horrific, as hordes antagonistic to Semitism have taken over leading universities,' according to the French news agency.
He deemed the protesters as calling for the elimination of Israel, attacking Jewish students, and assaulting Jewish faculty members, reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s. He added: 'This is unacceptable and must stop.'
Additionally, Israeli War Minister Yoav Galant called for an end to the demonstrations condemning his country at American universities. Galant stated in a post on his "X" platform account, as reported by the Anadolu Agency: 'The protests witnessed at universities in the United States are not only anti-Semitic but also incitement to terrorism.', according to his claim.
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