College protests live: Activists disrupt Michigan graduation as NYPD under fire

Students protested the University of Michigan’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, the latest manifestation of an ongoing wave of demonstrations against the Israel-Hamas war across the country.

The group consisted of about 75 people, and included students wearing graduate caps and kaffiyehs.

A protester held a banner that read “No universities left in Gaza”, a reference to Israel destruction of every university During the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Others held Palestinian flags.

Colleen Mastoni, a university spokeswoman, told the associated press Public security personnel took the workers to the back of the stadium where the ceremony was taking place.

“Peaceful protests like this have been happening at UM commencement ceremonies for decades,” he said.

No arrests were made, and the demonstration caused no serious delays to the several-hour ceremony.

before the police officers come in Colombia The university arrested more than 100 people Tuesday night as they cleared an occupied school building and a tent encampment. New York City Mayor eric adams He said he received intelligence that changed his thinking about campus demonstrations regarding the war in Gaza.

The mayor claimed “external agitators” working to “radicalize our kids” are steering students toward more extreme tactics. And one of them, Adams said repeatedly in the media Wednesday morning, was a woman whose husband “had been convicted of terrorism.”

But the woman referenced by the mayor was not on Columbia’s campus this week, is not among the protesters arrested, and has not been charged with a crime.

Human Rights Watch, a non-governmental organization that advocates human rights, noted the pro-Palestinian protests taking place across the country.

Louis Charbonneau, United Nations Director for the Organization, wrote Colleges must protect students’ right to protest.

“There have been disturbing reports of anti-Semitic incidents on and around the campus of Columbia University,” Mr. Charbonneau wrote. “Allegations of anti-Semitic acts and speech by individuals, as well as Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination, should be investigated and addressed on the merits on a case-by-case basis through fair and transparent processes. “

He added, “As protests spread to campuses across the country, university administrations must be careful not to label criticism of Israeli government policies or advocacy for Palestinian rights as inherently anti-Semitic or to characterize peaceful protest as Do not misuse the university’s authority to terminate.” “Instead, universities must protect people’s rights of assembly and free expression.”

The Columbia University chapter of the American Association of University Professors is seeking a vote of no confidence in President Minouche Shafik and his fellow administrators.

In a statement, the chapter condemned their decision to call the New York Police Department on protesters who occupied Hamilton Hall on Tuesday night.

“This decision was made without consultation with the University Senate, in violation of established procedures, by resorting to so-called emergency powers,” the chapter said in a statement Thursday. “It also flew in the face of efforts by the AAUP and faculty relied on by student protesters to deescalate the situation on campus and serve as observers in negotiations – efforts supported by the University Senate president that continued until the afternoon before the attack. “

More than 100 people were arrested on Columbia’s campus Tuesday evening.

The Pulitzer Prize Board, under Columbia University, praised the efforts of student journalists to cover the protests even while facing the “risk of arrest”.

“As we gather to consider the nation’s finest and most courageous journalism, the Pulitzer Prize Board wishes to recognize the tireless efforts of student journalists on our nation’s college campuses who, despite great personal and academic risk, confront and Covering up the disturbance.” ” Board wrote on Thursday, four days before the 2024 awards winners are announced.

He added, “We would also like to acknowledge the extraordinary real-time reporting by student journalists at Columbia University, where the Pulitzer Prizes are held, as the New York Police Department was called to the campus on Tuesday night.”

As Independent‘S alex woodward According to reports, student journalists worked around the clock to capture the historic demonstrations on college campuses across the country.

Pro-Palestinian protesters again entered the Portland State University Library Thursday evening, prompting police to again enter the building and clear it.

Portland State University campus security has taken one person into custody, Portland police said.

“We can now confirm that the trespassers scaled the fence and got back into the library. Police officers went back to the library and made arrests. Arrests have also been made for people refusing to leave the park block at the library, Portland police wrote on Twitter.

Thirty people had been arrested as of Thursday afternoon in connection with a pro-Palestinian protest on the campus of Portland State, according to the Portland Police Bureau. According to Portland police, at least seven were PSU students.