Pro-Palestine protests persist across US campuses, students ready to risk arrest and expulsion
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University campuses across the United States, including Harvard Yard, Columbia's South Lawn, Yale's Beinecke Plaza, and UC Berkeley's Sproul Plaza, are witnessing ongoing protests advocating for disclosure and divestment from entities associated with Israel and weapons fueling the conflict in Gaza.
"We're willing to risk suspension, expulsion, and arrest, and I think that that will put pressure," said Malak Afaneh, a law student at the University of California, Berkeley, and a protest organizer.
The demands of the pro-Palestinian demonstrators include urging universities to sever financial ties with companies linked to Israel and arms manufacturers contributing to the Gaza conflict, such as BlackRock, Google, Amazon's cloud service, Lockheed Martin, and Airbnb, reported Bloomberg.
Despite facing opposition and legal hurdles, including state laws discouraging divestment from Israel, the movement is gaining traction among students, particularly since the recent Gaza conflict.
The protests, marked by chants, flag-waving, and encampments, have sparked debates about free speech, safety, and the responsibility of universities in addressing contentious issues.
While students advocate for divestment, universities, including Harvard and Yale, have reaffirmed their opposition to policies boycotting Israel and its institutions, citing concerns about investment risks and financial stability.
The proponents of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement draw inspiration from historical campaigns, like the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, but face challenges in implementing divestment strategies due to complex investment portfolios and legal constraints.
Despite the hurdles, some pro-Palestine protesters remain resolute in their efforts to push for change and maintain pressure on universities to address their demands.
"It seems like a no for now, but students will keep pushing," said Lumisa Bista, a junior studying astrophysics at Yale, reflecting the determination among protesters to continue their advocacy efforts.
