Anti-war protests led by university students are spreading across the globe, from the US to France, Australia, Italy, and the UK. More than 27 universities are protesting against Israel’s war on Gaza, demanding their institutes to cut ties with Israeli universities and arms manufacturers, as Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 34,000 people and its blockade has caused starvation.
What started as the Gaza solidarity encampment at Columbia University, where students set up tents as a demonstration to urge their institute to divest from companies linked to Israel, has since spread to other parts of the US, including Emerson College in Boston, New York University, the University of Texas at Austin, Ohio State University in Columbus, and Emory University in Atlanta, as well as to other countries.
In Paris, France, Sorbonne University students have taken to the streets. Despite a police crackdown, the protesters re-gathered on Thursday.
In Australia, students from the University of Sydney set up pro-Palestine encampments on Tuesday, and they were continuing to protest on Friday.
Also, University of Melbourne students pitched tents on the south lawn of their main campus on Thursday.
In Italy, Rome, students from Sapienza University organised demonstrations, sit-ins and hunger strikes on April 17 and April 18.
Since April 19 night, students from the University of Warwick’s group Warwick Stands With Palestine have been demonstrating at the campus piazza located in England, United Kingdom.
In Leicester, England, a protest broke out on Monday in which students from the University of Leicester Palestine Society also participated.
Last month, students from the University of Leeds held a protest against the university’s involvement with Israel.
The authorities retaliated with arrests and excessive force. According to media reports, more than 500 protestors have been arrested in the US, with officials struggling to quell the dissent and resorting to the use of chemical irritants during arrests.
Social media videos appeared to show Police officers pinning protestors to the ground amid screams.