April 24, 2024 - US university protests

The demonstration at USC escalated when protesters refused to relocate and remove their tents and other prohibited items, Provost Andrew T. Guzman said in a statement posted online. 

Many of the protesters "do not appear to be affiliated with USC," he said.

“Their actions have escalated to the point of confrontation and have threatened the safety of our officers and campus community,” Guzman said.

Campus gates have been closed and officials are “taking action to restrict growth of the protest and keep the rest of the campus calm,” the statement read.

The scene at the University of Southern California's University Park campus has calmed after major activity erupted during a demonstration earlier on Wednesday.

The dean of Columbia College, the undergraduate liberal arts college at Columbia University, sent an email Wednesday to alumni about the protests on campus, describing it as a "difficult moment" for the New York school.

“I have heard from numerous alumni, parents and students voicing their thoughts on what they have witnessed personally or observed from a distance in recent days.”

In his email, Sorett stressed “several key points regarding the situation on and around campus,” including “unacceptable instances of intimidating and harassing behavior on our campus.”

He added: “Let me state emphatically that Antisemitic or Islamophobic rhetoric — like any other language used to hurt, harass and frighten people — has no place in our community… However, it is important to recognize that the University is limited in its ability to control the actions or words of members of the public on the streets surrounding campus – even as we acknowledge that not every incident has been outside the gates and that some Columbia affiliates are not without fault.”

More than 20 arrests were made at the University of Texas campus in Austin on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The department also said it will “continue adjusting operations as needed in order to assist our law enforcement partners and maintain the public’s safety.”

Some context: The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Austin organized a walkout and occupation on the school's South Lawn in Austin.

It led to multiple confrontations between police officers, state troopers "in full riot gear with batons" and the students, Amelia Kimball, associate managing editor at The Daily Texan, told CNN News Central.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations chapter in Austin, Texas, condemned “unnecessary and excessive force” used by police officers Wednesday to arrest students protesting the Israel-Hamas war.

Fayyaz Shah, board chair of CAIR Austin, said law enforcement should “exercise restraint and respect the rights of protesters.”

“In a democratic society, the right to peacefully protest and express dissenting opinions is fundamental. The use of large numbers of heavily armed law enforcement officers to arrest student activists advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza represents a troubling suppression of these rights,” Shah said in a statement.

Shaimaa Zayan, operations manager of CAIR Austin, stressed that law enforcement should prioritize de-escalation and dialogue when handling peaceful protests.

"Sending in a massive armed police force to arrest students advocating for peace sends the wrong message and only exacerbates tensions further,” Zayan said in a statement.

Texas state troopers in riot gear broke up a group of protesters at the University of Texas at Austin after a demonstration Wednesday. The Austin Police Department told CNN they are assisting the University of Texas Police Department with transporting arrested protesters.

Althea, a Jewish student in the encampment, said she’s been subject to harassment being part of the pro-Palestinian movement on the Columbia University campus.

She wears a Star of David necklace along with a keffiyeh, which has become a symbol of Palestinian identity. She said her family has roots in the Middle East, and that she’s a Mizrahi Jew. 

She asked not to be referred to by her last name for privacy concerns.  

Althea said combatting anti-Semitism and Islamophobia go hand in hand. 

“I would honestly say that the biggest threat to us on campus right now is the heavy presence of NYPD,” she said. 

She said Palestinian rights came to the forefront of her consciousness after she visited Israel last year through a trip organized by the campus Hillel. She said she visited a town on the Mediterranean coast where on one side was a Palestinian town and the other was an Israeli. 

 “On one side, there's this pristine environment that's Israeli homes. On the other side, it's a slum, like it's dirty… the Palestinian village doesn't have the resources to be able to clean up and function. A lot of the houses don't have electricity.”

 The encampment at Columbia observes the Muslim daily prayers as well as Seder for the Jewish holiday of Passover.  

“I think being Jewish inside the encampment has given me a very helpful perspective, where I'm able to say yes, I attended this Seder a couple nights ago with a lot of Palestinian and Muslim students who were welcomed with open arms,” she said.

Columbia University officials pushed back on assertions from protesters that the school threatened it would bring in the National Guard to help address the pro-Palestinian protest encampment.

The Secure Community Network – a consortium of Jewish community security officials across the nation – said Wednesday it is closely monitoring protest developments on college campuses and is urging administrators to "restore calm and order," noting at least 20 significant protests are reportedly underway.

SCN “is closely monitoring safety and security conditions for potential escalation and impact to Jewish students and faculty/staff,” the organization said in a statement, adding threat watchers “tracked a record 516 threat incident and suspicious activity reports on campuses in 2023.”

“Schools must restore calm and order,” said SCN National Director & CEO Michael Masters. “The best way to do this is to enact and enforce strict anti-tent, anti-encampment policies, and have zero tolerance for assaults on either students or police. Schools must also ensure collaboration with law enforcement and students to create an environment of safety. Failure to enforce these rules will lead to escalating protests."

As CNN has reported, SCN analysts routinely monitor both online and physical threats, and share investigative tips with law enforcement and Jewish houses of worship in the US.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said that arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Texas at Austin would continue "until the crowd disperses."

State troopers in riot gear, including some on horseback, were seen by CNN affiliate KEYE breaking up a group of protesters at demonstrations at the University on Wednesday.

The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Austin organized the walkout and occupation on the school's South Lawn.

Amelia Kimball, an associate managing editor at The Daily Texan, told CNN there was a "physical clash" between students and police at UT Austin on Wednesday.

“Numerous arrests have been made, numerous students have been put in squad cars,” Kimball said.

Abbott called for the expulsion of any students protesting in Texas. "Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled," he wrote.

However, Democratic Rep. Greg Casar, whose district covers part of Austin, was critical of the police's response to protesters in a post on social media.

"Freedom of speech and peaceful assembly are basic constitutional rights," Casar posted on X. "Student protesters — whether you agree with them or not — have a right to safety & fairness. Responding to peaceful demonstrations with weapons and riot gear escalates tension and makes everyone less safe."

The post was updated with comments from Rep. Greg Casar.

As on-campus protests continue Wednesday afternoon, the University of Southern California has closed its gates and is requiring individuals who need access to its campus to present identification.

The scene at the University of Southern California's University Park campus has calmed after major activity erupted during a demonstration earlier today.