Students at various colleges across the United States have joined in protest encampments with a shared demand for their schools to stop doing business with Israel or any companies supporting its actions in Gaza. The movement is rooted in the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which opposes Israel’s policies towards Palestinians. Inspired by ongoing protests and recent arrests at Columbia University, students are gathering on campuses, setting up tent camps, and refusing to leave until their demands are met.
The protests began after Hamas’ deadly attack on southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza. The students are calling for universities to cut ties with companies that support Israel’s military efforts in Gaza. The protests are organized by various student groups, sometimes including local chapters of organizations like Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. Their demands vary from stopping investments with military arms manufacturers supplying Israel to being more transparent about dealings with Israel.
Student governments at some colleges have passed resolutions calling for an end to investments and academic partnerships with Israel. University officials have expressed a willingness to have conversations with students while also voicing concerns about antisemitism in the protests. Some college presidents have rejected resolutions calling for divestment, citing concerns about academic freedom and the values of inclusion and belonging at their institutions.
Protesters have compared Israel’s policies in Gaza to apartheid in South Africa. They have faced allegations of antisemitism, with some states enacting laws blocking agencies from hiring companies supporting the BDS movement. President Joe Biden has condemned antisemitic protests while acknowledging the situation in Palestine. Universities like Yale and MIT have expressed their willingness to engage in conversations with students but have not committed to divestment.
Students pushing for divestment say it is challenging to determine the extent of their colleges’ connections to Israel due to the complexity of university investments. While some colleges have reported gifts or contracts from Israel, details about the source of funds and their use remain unclear. MIT students have highlighted researchers accepting money from Israel’s defense ministry, raising concerns about the institution’s complicity in supporting Israel’s military efforts. Student activists are camping out on campuses demanding greater transparency and divestment.
The movement for divestment and transparency is spreading to colleges like Harvard, Yale, and Emerson, where students are demanding an end to financial investments with Israel. The protests aim to hold colleges accountable for any role they play in supporting Israel’s military endeavors. While some universities have rejected calls for divestment, students remain steadfast in their demands and are committed to continuing their protests until their demands are met.
