Latest Developments
Approximately 50 protesters are still gathered in Alumni Park on campus, as LAPD officers have encircled the area. Despite the dispersal of a majority of the crowd, these individuals continue to protest.
During a recent visit to Columbia University, House Speaker Mike Johnson and his New York House Republican colleagues demanded the resignation of the school’s president, Minouche Shafik, due to what they perceive as her failure to effectively address the anti-Israel protests taking place on campus.
During the news conference held on the university’s campus, Johnson asserted that Shafik ought to resign “if she is unable to promptly restore order amidst this prevailing chaos.”
Johnson, the speaker of the House, made a commitment today by stating that Congress will not remain silent while Jewish students are forced to fear for their lives and stay away from their daily activities.
The news conference was quite chaotic, with Johnson and other House Republicans facing constant booing and heckling from the crowd. Their words were often overshadowed by the loud shouts coming from the audience.
According to Columbia spokesman Ben Chang, Shafik, along with the rest of the university administration, met with Johnson on Wednesday. They are fully dedicated to prioritizing the safety of the campus community and resolving the encampment situation.
In an update shared with the University of Southern California’s students, faculty, and other members, Andrew T. Guzman, the provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs, provided an overview of the current situation unfolding on campus.
According to Guzman, the university upholds the importance of freedom of expression and ensures that every member of the community has the right to express themselves. However, he also mentioned that there are established policies in place that define the boundaries of free expression in terms of time, place, and manner.
According to Guzman, the decision to close the campus was made following an altercation between protesters and security personnel outside the Doheny Library. The security team had asked the protesters, who were not associated with USC, to leave and dismantle their tents. However, the protesters refused to comply with the request.
According to Guzman, the actions of these individuals have reached a level where they have directly confronted our officers and posed a significant threat to the safety of our campus community.
According to Guzman, access to campus, attending classes, and participating in activities will be limited to individuals with USC identification or a verifiable business purpose until further notice.
“In these difficult times, we urge the Trojan Family to remember the importance of respecting every member of our community. Each individual deserves to feel safe on campus, attend classes, and engage in campus activities without the fear of harassment or bullying. It is crucial that we prioritize treating one another with kindness and compassion,” he stated.
Columbia University President Minouche Shafik and administrators have expressed their dedication to ensuring the safety of the campus community and bringing an end to the encampment. This commitment was emphasized during their meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the school.
According to Ben Chang, the Vice President of the Office of Public Affairs at the school, the encampment on the west lawn has raised significant safety concerns. However, the university has been engaging in a dialogue with students to bring an end to it, and he believes these discussions will yield positive results.
He dismissed rumors that the National Guard would be involved and labeled those reports as false and “unsubstantiated.” Chang clarified that the university has been in communication with the NYPD and will maintain this connection moving forward.
According to Chang, the university will need to explore “alternative options” in order to resolve the encampment before graduation.
According to the spokesperson, the protesters have already committed to dismantling a significant number of tents. At this point, only Columbia students will be involved in the encampment.
Currently, only individuals with a Columbia ID are allowed access to the Morningside campus, as stated by Chang.
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The University of Texas at Austin has reported that they have apprehended a total of 20 individuals.
The UT Division of Student Affairs made it clear that UT Austin has zero tolerance for any disruptions to campus activities or operations, citing incidents at other campuses. They emphasized the significance of the current time in the semester, with students completing classes and preparing for finals. The division assured that their primary focus is to ensure that these critical functions proceed smoothly without any interruptions.
In a recent press conference, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, shared her thoughts on the ongoing student protests at Columbia University and other colleges nationwide.
During the daily press briefing, Jean-Pierre emphasized once again the administration’s strong stance against antisemitism.
The administration was asked about their stance on House Speaker Mike Johnson’s call for the president of Columbia University to resign. In response, Jean-Pierre declined to comment, citing that Columbia is a private institution.
The statement from Jean-Pierre acknowledges the profound pain experienced by numerous communities during this time. It emphasizes that the President recognizes the significance of both the free speech debate and the promotion of nondiscrimination on college campuses, as they are fundamental American values.
A protest organized by pro-Palestinian demonstrators at USC turned into a chaotic scene when campus police intervened to prevent the setting up of an encampment in the school’s Alumni Park. Los Angeles ABC station KABC reported on the incident. It is worth noting that the university’s commencement ceremony is set to take place in Alumni Park on May 10.
Last week, USC faced backlash after canceling the valedictorian’s speech due to safety concerns surrounding her pro-Palestinian views. The student in question is Asna Tabassum, a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim who studied biomedical engineering and minored in resistance to genocide. A statement issued by the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations highlighted her academic achievements and background.
According to KABC, USC police officers initiated the process of dispersing the encampment, which consisted of tents and signs. They were later joined by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department.
On Wednesday, despite the university’s closure until Friday, pro-Palestinian students at Harvard University initiated an encampment in Harvard Yard.
The encampment follows Harvard’s suspension of the Harvard Palestine Solidarity Committee, an on-campus group with a history of activism.
According to the statement, the group is also urging the university to dismiss all charges against students involved in organizing and activism, and to put an end to the use of disciplinary policy as a means of targeting students.
Students at the University of Texas at Austin have initiated protests on campus, demanding divestment. These protests mirror the encampments established at Columbia and Yale University. Likewise, a similar encampment was organized at New York University, resulting in the arrest of more than 130 students and faculty members on Monday.
A group of Texas State Troopers marched through the campus, urging protesters to disperse.
Texas Hillel, the center for Jewish Life on campus, expressed their concerns about a planned anti-Israel protest on their UT campus during Passover. In an Instagram statement, they highlighted the irony of scheduling the protest during a Jewish holiday and observed that it seemed to serve a hateful agenda. Recognizing the need to ensure the safety of their campus and students, Texas Hillel promptly reached out to the university and security partners to coordinate an effective response plan.
The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Austin expressed their concerns on Instagram about the heavy police presence that greeted students, preventing them from utilizing their campus space for political expression.
The Austin Police Department is currently providing assistance to the UT Police Department, which is the main agency responsible for responding to the events on campus. Additionally, the Texas Department of Public Safety is also offering their support in this matter.
