University students in Texas joined hundreds of others this week in demonstrating against the war in Gaza.
These protests began occurring across the United States days after students at New York's Columbia University were arrested and charged with trespassing after camping on the school's lawn.
Tensions on campus are high as police arrest hundreds of protesters, including dozens from Texas.
Demonstrations occur as students finish class, study for final exams, or prepare for graduation.
According to the Israeli government, protests have continued on campuses across the country since October 7, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. In the months that followed, Israel bombed the Gaza Strip multiple times, killing more than 34,000 people, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. dallas morning news We cannot independently verify these numbers.
Here's what we know about the protests spreading across college and university campuses.
Why are college students protesting?
Pro-Palestinian students want the school to divest from companies with ties to Israel and companies that manufacture weapons used in the Gaza conflict.
In other words, they want universities to extract investments, sometimes millions of dollars, from companies that make weapons and technology used in war.
Students are also calling on university officials to call for a ceasefire in Gaza and condemn attacks on Palestinians.
What about Governor Abbott's executive order that upset students?
In Texas, some students are calling on school leaders to publicly reject Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order requiring schools to update their free speech policies. Abbott said the order is aimed at addressing anti-Semitism at Texas universities.
However, some say it is too broad and limits freedom of speech.
Where in Texas did students protest?
About 100 students at the University of Texas at Dallas staged a sit-in on Tuesday. UTD Chairman Richard Benson agreed to meet and discuss their demands after occupying the building that houses his office for about seven hours. UTD officials said Benson also plans to meet with the Jewish student body to hear their opinions.
Around 100 students staged a sit-in, demanding that the university divest from companies that are “promoting death and war” in Gaza.
Texas A&M University students also protested Tuesday.
Students at the University of Texas at Austin and Arlington finished classes Wednesday. Hundreds of people protested at the flagship campus in Austin, but the situation quickly escalated as police and state troopers intervened.
Hundreds of students gathered in Austin again Thursday afternoon.
What happened at UT?
Shortly after protests began Wednesday, state troopers and police officers in riot gear arrived on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Texas Department of Public Safety officials said in a statement that Mr. Abbott requested the involvement of state troopers.
DPS officials said at least 34 people had been arrested as of 9 p.m. By late evening, the estimate of arrests had increased to at least 54 people, according to an attorney with the Austin Lawyers Guild. He did not say how many of them were students.
Later in the evening, UT President Jay Hartzell said in a statement that the university “resolutely enforced our rules while upholding our constitutional right to free speech.”
“Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable,” he said. “Breaking our rules and policies or interfering with others' ability to learn is not allowed.”
Charges against 46 people arrested during the conflict were dropped.
How did Governor Abbott respond to the protests?
Abbott took to social media to condemn “students participating in hateful and anti-Semitic protests at Texas public universities.” post. They “should be expelled,” he added.
“These protesters should be in jail. Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Of course,” Abbott said.
Where else are students protesting?
Recent protests have also occurred at the University of Southern California, Ohio State University, Harvard University, California State Polytechnic State University, Humboldt, Emerson College, New York University, Emory University, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, and University of California, Berkeley. According to the Associated Press.
Demonstrators set up camps on some campuses.
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