2 weeks ago
Weeks after the mass arrests at New York's Columbia University, pro-Palestine protests continue unabated at major universities in the US, with some of these institutions resorting to police action to remove campus encampments.
The statue of John Harvard, the first major benefactor of Harvard College, is seen draped in the Palestinian flag, at an encampment of students protesting against the war in Gaza, at Harvard University. (AP Photo)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 29, 2024 07:38 IST
In Short
Palestinian flag raised over John Harvard statue at Harvard UniversityIncident termed as 'violation of university policy'Campus protests continue in US, arrests approach 900 since April 18Anti-Israel protesters at Harvard University in the US raised the Palestinian flag over the John Harvard statue in Harvard Yard, a spot which is reserved for the American flag, as demonstrations against the Gaza War continue to grip universities across the country. The number of arrests nationwide has approached 900 since the April 18 mass arrests at New York's Columbia University.
The incident at Harvard University on Saturday came as pro-Palestine protesters have refused to end their ongoing agitation at the Ivy League school's campus.
US 🇺🇲 flag at @Harvard removed and replaced by Palestine 🇵🇸 flag.
This has nothing to do with Israel, and everything to do with toppling US and the Western civilization.
pic.twitter.com/2hwANS8Jfn — Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) April 28, 2024
A Harvard spokesperson termed the incident "a violation of university policy", adding that the "individuals involved will be subject to disciplinary action".
On Saturday alone, some 275 people were arrested at various campuses, including Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis.
Here are the latest developments:
The Harvard Crimson, a student newspaper, said that three Palestinian flags were raised at the campus on Saturday evening. As Harvard Yard Operations staff removed the flags, protesters yelled “Shame!” and chanted “Free, free Palestine” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”.
The University of California, Los Angeles on Sunday witnessed skirmishes between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Reuters news agency said demonstrators broke through a barrier that the school had set up to separate the two factions.
Protests continued on Sunday at George Washington University’s campus in Washington, DC, where students erected dozens of tents in a park and the adjacent street, CNN reported. Demonstrators, with some wearing traditional keffiyeh and waving Palestinian flags, chanted “Free Palestine.
At a refugee camp in southern Gaza's Rafah, Palestinian students staged a display of solidarity to express gratitude for the support seen on US college campuses, CNN reported. The students held banners that said "Students of Columbia University, continue to stand by us", and “Violating our right to education and life is a war crime.”
Published By:
Karishma Saurabh Kalita
Published On:
Apr 29, 2024
