Pro-Palestinian protests have broken out across college campuses in numerous U.S. states over the past few weeks, but there have also been states that have not seen any demonstrations.
Pro-Palestinian protests are calling for schools to divest from Israel amid their ongoing war with Hamas militants in Gaza. Colleges like Columbia University in New York, Princeton University in New Jersey, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Arizona State University and Emory University in Georgia have all seen large pro-Palestinian protests.
Law enforcement officials have made more than 2,000 arrests over the past few weeks at college campus protests across the nation, according to the Associated Press.
Tensions across college campuses have increased since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel that left 1,200 people dead and saw more than 200 more taken hostage. More than 34,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the war began, the Associated Press reported, citing local health officials.
However, some states—South Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawaii—have not had any pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, a Newsweek review found. Below is a map showcasing the states that have not had a college protest in recent weeks.
In South Dakota, Governor Kristi Norm signed legislation in March to combat antisemitism in the state.
"Ever since the horrific terrorist attacks on the State of Israel on October 7th, 2023, we have seen a shocking spike in antisemitic acts of hatred around the world, including some isolated incidents right here in South Dakota," Noem said in a press release in March. "I am very proud to sign this historic bill to keep our Jewish people secure. I hope more states will follow our leadership."
In Hawaii, the state Senate passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and the state House passed a similar resolution this week.
In February, a pro-Palestinian protest occurred in Wyoming outside of the state Capitol in Cheyenne, with protesters criticizing Governor Mark Gordon.
"Governor Gordon, you can't hide, we charge you with genocide," some of the protesters chanted in February, the Cowboy State Daily reported.
In February, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed an administrative order calling on state agencies to stop conducting business with companies that support boycotts against Israel.
"The State of Alaska stands firmly with Israel," Dunleavy said in February, the Alaska Beacon reported.
A number of other states have passed similar legislation and executive orders, which seek to ban boycotts against Israel.
Newsweek reached out to the Boycott, Divestment & Sanctions (BDS) movement, which has shown support for the pro-Palestinian protests, via email for comment.
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Matthew Impelli is a Newsweek staff writer based in New York. His focus is reporting social issues and crime. In ... Read more
