Crackdowns on Pro-Palestinian Protests Across US Campuses: Why Are They Significant?
- Elon Gilad
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have swept across the United States, particularly on university campuses, and concerns have grown over the conduct of protesters, including credible reports of antisemitic rhetoric and intimidation. The question of student safety, academic freedom, and boundaries of political activism in the US has come to light.
Pro-Palestinian protests on campuses and student safety
In the spring of 2024, more than 500 colleges across the US saw sustained pro-Palestinian activism. Students erected encampments, held sit-ins, and issued demands, often centering on university divestment from Israel or condemnation of its military campaign. While some of these actions remained nonviolent, most included confrontational tactics. Reports emerged of verbal abuse and threats against Jewish students.
At Columbia University, tensions escalated quickly. In April, police dismantled an encampment and arrested over 100 students. Jewish students at the university reported feeling unsafe, citing chants such as “by any means necessary” and incidents of harassment. Similar dynamics played out at UCLA, the University of Texas at Austin, and Northeastern University, where campus authorities called in law enforcement to disperse demonstrations.
Pro-Palestinian protests and administrative and legal repercussions
Following the initial protest wave, universities began disciplining individual activists. At the University of Chicago, a student was arrested months after a protest and subsequently banned from campus. Administrators cited safety concerns and pending legal charges.
Columbia University suspended two student organizations—Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace—following a demonstration involving over 20 groups. The New York Civil Liberties Union and Palestine Legal filed a lawsuit, arguing that Columbia violated its own policies and state law.
In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis’s administration instructed public universities to deactivate SJP chapters, claiming the national organization supported terrorism. The move, while later paused amid litigation, sent a direct message to campus activists.
Officials defending these measures cite rising antisemitism and incidents on campuses that go beyond protected speech. University leaders and state officials argue that some protest activity has created hostile environments for Jewish students.
At several universities, students reported being blocked from campus buildings, subjected to aggressive chants, or targeted online for their support of Israel.
US college protests have a long and significant history
The US has a long history of conflict over protests on campus, from the Vietnam War to Black Lives Matter. One way that sets the current pro-Palestinian movement apart is that protest rhetoric has drawn direct intervention from political leaders. The Trump administration has made this issue a focus, withdrawing funding from universities and pursuing immigration penalties against protest participants. Across campuses, some pro-Palestinian students now avoid speaking publicly or use pseudonyms, citing fears of retaliation or surveillance.
What is certain is that the war in Gaza has reached deep into American academic life.
Elon Gilad is an Israeli author, journalist, and linguist. His work focuses on uncovering the historical roots of contemporary issues, particularly in current affairs, Jewish history, and the Hebrew language. Gilad is the author of "The Secret History of Judaism." His analytical pieces draw on his diverse background to provide unique insights into today's complex issues, explaining current situations through the lens of historical development.