Map Shows Pro-Palestinian College Protests Across US

Students at universities across the United States have established protest camps to demonstrate against the ongoing Israeli military operation in Gaza.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas gunmen launched a surprise attack on southern Israel killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking several hundred more back into Gaza as hostages. In response, the Israeli military launched a major air and ground operation in Gaza which resulted in over 34,000 deaths according to the territory's Hamas controlled health ministry.

The Israeli campaign has sparked large pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the world, including in the United States where over the past eight days some students have been constructing tent-based encampments at their college campuses, which have led to accusations of harassment and antisemitism.

Police have attempted to dismantle several of these with officers making more than 100 arrests at the University of Southern California and the University of Texas (UT) at Austin on Wednesday.

Newsweek has created a list of American universities where students have established, or attempted to establish, pro-Palestinian solidarity camps.

Columbia University

Students at Columbia University established a protest camp for Palestinians on April 17, which they called the 'Gaza Solidarity Encampment,' to demand their school's administration cut all financial ties with Israel.

On April 18, police made 100 arrests while attempting to clear the camp, but it quickly reformed, and media coverage of the raid helped launch a series of copycat protest encampments at other universities.

New York University

Mirroring Columbia, students at New York University created a camp in a prominent plaza, which also attracted some pro-Israel counterprotesters according to Sky News.

On Monday, the New York Police Department (NYPD) moved in and made 120 arrests, with 116 of those detained released after being given summonses for trespassing.

NYPD deputy commissioner said his officers received a request for assistance from the university adding: "Our officers responded to the location without delay and dispersed the crowd—making numerous arrests, as necessary."

Yale University

Monday also saw police storm a pro-Palestinian protest camp that had formed on Beinecke Plaza arresting 47 student demonstrators for trespass according to the Yale Daily News.

University of Texas at Austin

Students supporting Palestinians attempted to make a protest camp at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin on Wednesday but were met with a strong law enforcement response, with officers making 34 arrests according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, lashed out at the demonstrators commenting: "These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period. Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled."

University of Southern California

The Los Angeles Police Department made 93 arrests for trespass on Wednesday when students started constructing a protest camp.

At around 11 p.m. PDT the official USC X account posted: "The protest on the UPC [University Park Campus] has ended. However, the campus remains closed until further notice. Students, faculty, staff, and people with business on campus may enter with proper identification."

Harvard University

According to the Associated Press (AP) on Wednesday, students at Harvard set up a protest camp with 14 tents following a demonstration against the university suspending the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee.

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt

Students at California State Polytechnic University occupied two university buildings in Humboldt earlier this week, using tents, furniture and zip ties to block access according to an AP report.

Emerson College

On Tuesday, around 80 students occupied a courtyard at Emerson College's downtown Boston campus. In a statement, the college said some demonstrators had engaged in "targeted harassment and intimidation of Jewish supporters of Israel."

University of Michigan

A camp established by students at the University of Michigan campus in Ann Arbor contained around 40 tents on Tuesday, according to an AP report, with the news agency saying students were reluctant to identify themselves as they feared official sanction.

University of Minnesota

On Tuesday, nine students were arrested at the University of Minnesota after police removed a small encampment in front of a library.

Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, whose daughter was one of those arrested at Columbia University earlier in the week, delivered an address to protesters just hours later.

University of California, Berkeley

According to AP, around 30 tents had been set up in a protest camp at the University of California as of Tuesday.

The New School in Manhattan

The New York Times reported students at The New School in Manhattan erected tents inside a lobby area and created a picket line on Tuesday with at least two dozen involved.

Brown University

Local newspaper The Brown Daily Herald reported around 80 students established a camp on the main green at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Tufts University

By Wednesday, around a dozen tents were erected by student demonstrators on the Tufts University academic quad according to The New York Times.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Boston Globe reported a pro-Palestinian encampment was setup by students at MIT on Sunday.

University of Pittsburgh

Video posted on X on Wednesday showed a protest encampment had been created on the University of Pittsburgh's Schenley Plaza involving around a dozen tents.

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Student newspaper Niner Times reports the activist group Social Justice for South West Asia and North Africa have set up a protest camp for Palestinians on a central plaza and said it will remain in place at least until a Board of Trustees meeting on April 25.

Rice University

Rice University students in Houston created a 'liberated zone' on campus complete with tents and banners according to The Rice Thresher, a student run publication.