Pro-Palestinian Protests Sweep US College Campuses Following Arrests at Columbia

Schools sought to diffuse tensions over Israel’s war with Hamas while struggling with where to draw the line between allowing free expression while maintaining campus safety.

USC ‘Redesigning’ Commencement Amid Campus Controversy Over Israel-Hamas War

The university’s decision was met with praise from pro-Israel organizations but condemnation from free speech groups and the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Citing Safety, USC Cancels Speech by Valedictorian Who Supported Palestinians

A First Amendment attorney expressed concern about cancelling events that could be perceived as censorship, and the possibility of other schools buckling to pressure.

Columbia’s President Testifies Before Congress on Campus Conflicts Over Israel-Hamas War

She took a more decisive stance than the presidents of Harvard and the UPenn, who gave lawyerly answers when asked if calls for the genocide of Jews would violate school policies.

Some Fear University of Michigan Proposed Policy on Protests Could Quell Free Speech

The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan said it is concerned the proposed policy, as drafted, will impair civil liberties on campus.

SF Protesters Who Blocked Bridge to Demand Cease-Fire Will Avoid Criminal Proceedings

Eighty people were arrested, and 29 vehicles were towed. Protesters demanded that Biden call for an immediate cease-fire in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Two Students File Lawsuit Accusing MIT of Allowing Antisemitism on Campus

The lawsuit mirrors others filed since Oct. 7, including at Columbia University, New York University, Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania.

Florida Senate Unanimously Passes Bill To Define Antisemitism

Florida is among several states seeking to define antisemitism, as there has been a surge in antisemitic incidents since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.