Palestinian solidarity protests continue in the United States in spite of police crackdowns -- as demonstrators target New York's Met Gala.

New York

Columbia University has canceled its main graduation ceremony amidst ongoing Palestinian solidarity protests taking place across the United States. The decision has caused disappointment among students, particularly seniors who were looking forward to the event as a significant milestone. Protests have been inciting police responses, with several students from Columbia among those arrested near New York's Metropolitan Museum during the Met Gala. This has been part of a broader movement by students at various universities advocating for Palestinian solidarity.

The protests have led to a series of police crackdowns on university campuses. At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), around 45 individuals, including students, attorneys, and members of the press, were arrested and zip-tied by police. This response came less than a week after a violent confrontation occurred between pro-Israel individuals and Gaza Solidarity protesters, with the latter facing numerous arrests post the altercation. Similar actions by police were seen at the University of California, San Diego, where student protesters faced the dismantling of their encampments and further arrests.

In addition to Columbia University, other institutions have been navigating the challenge of accommodating graduation ceremonies amid the protests. Emory University in Atlanta has decided to move its commencement to a sports center located approximately 40 kilometers from the main campus, following the arrest of numerous Gaza Solidarity protesters weeks earlier. These measures reflect the universities' efforts to manage the evolving situation while dealing with the disruptions caused by the protests. Regardless of how these institutions proceed with their graduation ceremonies, the ongoing season of protests is likely to be a lasting memory for the Class of 2024.



Columbia University cancels graduation ceremony after Gaza protests

Student protesters converged near New York's Metropolitan Museum as it began its annual celebrity-studded high society fashion show and gala dinner. Police made several arrests. Some of those protesters were from Columbia University, which has been in the vanguard of the protest movement. On Monday, Columbia canceled its main graduation ceremony, upsetting students who were due to take part. Their entire justification for shutting down the encampment or everything else they've done on campus was so that they could hold a commencement or something, so they could hold graduation as normal. And then just to cancel it just feels very, feels ridiculous and it feels like kind of a slap in the face to everyone involved. Honestly, I'm very angry. You know, I'm a senior and for my high school graduation, that was canceled too because of COVID. And now you come to this next milestone in your life and you don't get to celebrate that either. Across the U.S., university administrators persisted in using police to suppress peaceful student protests. At UCLA, about 45 students, attorneys and members of the press were arrested, their hands zip-tied by police in tactical gear. Their offense, gathering in a campus parking garage. Less than a week ago, a mob of several hundred pro-Israel people from off-campus violently attacked UCLA protesters. While well over 100 Gaza Solidarity protesters have been arrested since then, none of the attackers have been apprehended. At the University of California, San Diego, police confronted student protesters at their encampment, tearing down tents and barricades and making more arrests. Other student protests were held on campuses in Massachusetts, in Virginia and in New York. With graduation approaching, universities tried various ways of keeping protesters from unsettling the ceremonies. Weeks after dozens of Gaza Solidarity protesters were arrested at Emory University in Atlanta, the school announced that commencement would be held in a nondescript sports center about 40 kilometers from campus. No matter how or if they celebrate their graduation, this season of protest will be an indelible memory for the Class of 2024. Rob Reynolds, Al Jazeera, Los Angeles.

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