Understanding the Complexity of Campus Turmoil
Exploring the intricate dynamics and historical context of contentious conflicts on campuses, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, where differing perspectives and deep-rooted beliefs contribute to escalating tensions and challenges in capturing the full complexity of the situation.
The complexity and long-standing nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict make it challenging to summarize concisely, especially as tensions escalate among groups with deeply ingrained beliefs on the issue.
Students participating in campus encampments across the United States come from diverse backgrounds, including Palestinians, Arabs, Jews, Muslims, and individuals from other religious and ethnic groups. They also represent a range of political and social perspectives, from liberal to conservative, progressive to traditional. Many are driven by the distressing reports and videos emerging from Gaza, which can be difficult to witness. These students view the actions of the Israeli military in Gaza as part of a history of over 70 years of suppressing Palestinian rights, land, and culture. Protesters are urging their schools to take a stand against what they perceive as genocide in Gaza.
Texas state troopers try to break up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas in Austin on Wednesday, April 24.
Texas state troopers try to break up a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of Texas in Austin on Wednesday, April 24.
Jay Janner/Austin Statesman/USA Today Network/Reuters
Georgia State Patrol officers detain a demonstrator on the campus of Emory University during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Atlanta on Thursday, April 25.
Georgia State Patrol officers detain a demonstrator on the campus of Emory University during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Atlanta on Thursday, April 25.
Mike Stewart/AP
An activist leads chants during a pro-Palestinian protest April 24 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
An activist leads chants during a pro-Palestinian protest April 24 at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.
Sarah Reingewirtz/MediaNews Group/Los Angeles Daily News/Getty Images
Students at the University of Texas at Austin watch a protest from a classroom window on April 24.
Students at the University of Texas at Austin watch a protest from a classroom window on April 24.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Students were taken into custody during a protest in Austin on April 24, with dozens of arrests made. Prior to the arrests, university police had sent out an email warning students that further arrests would occur if they did not leave the protest site. 
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Protesters link arms at Emerson College in Boston on April 24.
Protesters link arms at Emerson College in Boston on April 24.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the media at Columbia University after meeting with Jewish students on April 24. During the tense news conference, he called for the school's president to resign. The crowd repeatedly interrupted him and at times loudly booed him and other Republican lawmakers who were present.
House Speaker Mike Johnson speaks to the media on the campus of Columbia University after meeting with Jewish students on April 24. He called on the school's president to resign during a tense news conference where the crowd repeatedly interrupted him and at times loudly booed him and other Republican lawmakers who were with him.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images
Demonstrators' tents are set up on Columbia's campus in New York on April 24. The school is also preparing for graduation ceremonies.
Demonstrators' tents are set up on Columbia's campus in New York on April 24. The school is also preparing for graduation ceremonies.
Alex Kent/Getty Images
Demonstrators work on a banner April 24 at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Demonstrators work on a banner April 24 at Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images
Protesters demonstrate at the University of Texas in Austin on April 24.
Protesters demonstrate at the University of Texas in Austin on April 24.
Nuri Vallbona/Reuters
Demonstrators and Texas state troopers face one another in Austin on April 24.
Demonstrators and Texas state troopers face one another in Austin on April 24.
Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Police stand near protesters at the University of Southern California on April 24.
Police stand near protesters at the University of Southern California on April 24.
Zaydee Sanchez/Reuters
New York police officers stand near protesters outside the main entrance of Columbia University on April 24.
New York police officers stand near protesters outside the main entrance of Columbia University on April 24.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters
Columbia students prepare to camp overnight on Tuesday, April 23.
Columbia students prepare to camp overnight on Tuesday, April 23.
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters
A group of Jewish and non-Jewish students come together at the Columbia encampment to celebrate Seder, a special feast at the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Columbia student Cameron Jones shared with CNN: "As a Jewish person, Passover holds a special meaning for me, representing perseverance and resilience. This encampment reflects those values as we have faced challenges from the university trying to hinder our student activism, yet we continue to push forward."
A group of Jewish and non-Jewish students gather at the Columbia encampment to celebrate Seder, a ritual feast at the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Columbia student Cameron Jones told CNN: "I am Jewish and, to me, Passover symbolizes perseverance and resilience. I think this encampment represents those two ideals because we have seen the university take countless measures to try to suppress our student activism, and here is us persevering through that."
Caitlin Ochs/Reuters
A makeshift memorial at Columbia, seen on April 23, pays tribute to Jewish hostages taken by Hamas in October.
A makeshift memorial at Columbia, seen on April 23, pays tribute to Jewish hostages taken by Hamas in October.
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Students protest near New York University on April 23.
Students protest near New York University on April 23.
Andres Kudacki/The New York Times/Redux
Students at the University of California, Berkeley, set up an encampment at Sproul Hall on April 23.
Students at the University of California, Berkeley, set up an encampment at Sproul Hall on April 23.
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu/Getty Images
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut on April 23. The university police arrested at least 45 protesters the day before and charged them with criminal trespassing as they refused to leave when ordered.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators sit at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, on April 23. University police arrested at least 45 protesters the day before and charged them with criminal trespassing after they refused orders to leave.
Joe Buglewicz/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Police and protesters face off at New York University on Monday, April 22.
Police and protesters face off at New York University on Monday, April 22.
Fatih Aktas/Anadolu/Getty Images
Police officers clear away tents from an encampment at New York University on April 22.
Police officers clear away tents from an encampment at New York University on April 22.
Alex Kent/AFP/Getty Images
People watch from a window as New York University students set up a tent encampment on April 22.
People watch from a window as New York University students set up a tent encampment on April 22.
Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Students and pro-Palestinian supporters rally at The New School in New York on April 22.
Students and pro-Palestinian supporters rally at The New School in New York on April 22.
Mary Altaffer/AP
Students rally at an encampment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge on April 22.
Students rally at an encampment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge on April 22.
Scott Eisen/Getty Images
A pro-Palestinian protest is held at the steps of Columbia's Lowe Library on April 22.
A pro-Palestinian protest is held at the steps of Columbia's Lowe Library on April 22.
David Dee Delgado/Getty Images
Some Columbia professors rally in support of their protesting students on April 22.
Some Columbia professors rally in support of their protesting students on April 22.
Stefan Jeremiah/AP
Israeli flags are reflected in the sunglasses of a demonstrator in front of Columbia University on April 22.
Israeli flags are reflected in the sunglasses of a demonstrator in front of Columbia University on April 22.
Stephanie Keith/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Student activists set up camp at a New School cafeteria on Sunday, April 21.
Student activists set up camp at a New School cafeteria on Sunday, April 21.
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside a Columbia building on Saturday, April 20.
Pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside a Columbia building on Saturday, April 20.
Selcuk Acar/Anadolu/Getty Images
Police officers stand near barriers as pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside of Columbia on April 18.
Police officers stand near barriers as pro-Palestinian protesters gather outside of Columbia on April 18.
Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images
In pictures: Pro-Palestinian protests spread at US colleges
Prev
Next
Columbia University students participate in an ongoing pro-Palestinian encampment on their campus following last week's arrest of more than 100 protesters on April 25, 2024 in New York City. In a growing number of college campuses throughout the country, student protesters are setting up tent encampments on school grounds to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and for their schools to divest from Israeli companies. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Columbia University students are currently taking part in a pro-Palestinian encampment on their campus in response to the recent arrest of over 100 protesters on April 25, 2024, in New York City. Across various college campuses nationwide, student activists are pitching tent encampments on their school grounds to demand a ceasefire in Gaza and urge their institutions to divest from Israeli companies. This movement is gaining momentum and support among young people advocating for peace in the region. (Photo by Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
Related live-story
Columbia president faces key vote of censure from faculty as protests continue nationwide
CAIR has reported a rise in Islamophobia incidents on campus, while the Anti-Defamation League has documented an increase in violence and threats against Jewish students. Some Jewish students have shared their experiences of feeling threatened by protesters and encountering antisemitic rhetoric at recent rallies. These concerns have been echoed by pro-Israel politicians, with the White House and several governors showing support for Jewish students and calling for restraint from protesters and universities.
The surge in antisemitism following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, has left many Jews feeling that Israel needs more support than ever. Despite differing opinions on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies and Israel’s actions in Gaza, many Jews view any criticism of Israel as antisemitic, as the idea of Israel as a Jewish homeland holds significant importance in Judaism. Some even back the Israeli government’s efforts to combat Hamas in Gaza.
CNN's coverage on the ground has mainly focused on the activities of students inside the encampments, such as poetry readings, painting, and school work. There have also been reports of multi-faith prayers and group dancing. However, despite these peaceful activities, numerous protesters have been arrested for trespassing and violating school regulations, such as blocking access to campus buildings. Some actions by the protesters and their social media posts have caused unease among Jewish students. Despite this, most university administrators have refrained from taking action against the protesters, who have mostly demonstrated peacefully. Critics, including some politicians, have condemned the universities' responses, including the arrests.
Editor's P/S:
The recent surge in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses in the United States underscores the deep divisions and complex emotions surrounding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives come together to express their views, it is crucial to engage in respectful and constructive dialogue that acknowledges the historical complexities and human suffering involved.
While it is important to listen to the voices of those who feel that Israel's actions in Gaza constitute genocide, it is equally important to recognize the concerns of Jewish students who feel threatened or targeted by anti-Semitic rhetoric. Universities have a responsibility to provide a safe and inclusive environment for all students, regardless of their religious, ethnic, or political affiliation. By fostering open and respectful dialogue, we can strive for a deeper understanding of the issues at hand and work towards a peaceful resolution that respects the rights and dignity of all parties involved.
