Suppression of student protests in support of Palestine continues in America
US universities continue to suppress student protests in support of Palestine and impose strict regulations to prevent a repeat of anti-war protests in Gaza.
American universities have warned students, faculty and student activists about the impact of the violation of freedom of expression on steps taken to prevent a repeat of the protests against the Gaza war, according to London's Guardian newspaper.
Referring to the fence around the Columbia University grounds, which was the main focus of the protests and student camps, the Guardian wrote that these barriers were not the only new measures taken by the university to prevent a recurrence of the protests.
A previous round of protests culminated in the arrest of 199 students after New York City police entered the campus last April.
The Guardian reported that strict new regulations were not only being implemented at Columbia University, but universities across the US were also considering new policies and proposals to limit student protests.
Students and university professors have warned about the potential for such restrictive policies to jeopardize freedom of expression, and that promoting debate and dialogue in a university setting runs counter to the agenda of educational institutions, creates tensions, and violates universities’ legal obligations. Universities across America have been facing intense student protests since the beginning of the Zionist war in Gaza. Among the many demands from authorities, students and professors at American universities are calling for cutting ties with the Israeli regime.
During the past academic year, dozens of camps were established at universities in America for the purpose of solidarity with Palestinians.
More than 3,000 students were arrested by police, many were charged with criminal offences and faced disciplinary investigations, and some universities were forced to cancel graduation ceremonies.
