Pro-Gaza protests expand in US universities…and the police arrest about 900 students

Protests rocked several universities in the United States, while upcoming graduation celebrations were subjected to threats from demonstrators denouncing the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip and the increasing death toll there. Several universities were largely calm at the end of the week, as demonstrators remained near the tents that had been set up as a protest headquarters, despite some forcible relocation of tents and police carrying out arrests in some universities. Many students are calling on their university administrations to cut financial ties with Israel, due to the large-scale war in Gaza. About 275 people were arrested last Saturday at several universities, including Indiana University in Bloomington, Arizona State University, and Washington University in St. Louis. The number of arrests across the country has approached 900 since the New York Police removed a pro-Palestinian protest camp at Columbia University, and arrested more than 100 demonstrators on the 18th of this month. The crisis of detained students has become a central part of the protests, with other students and a growing number of faculty members demanding their pardon. There is debate about whether arrests will follow the students throughout their future lives. Meanwhile, faculty at the universities of California, Georgia and Texas initiated largely 'symbolic votes' of no confidence in their leaders. John Kirby, spokesman for the White House National Security Council, said that President Joe Biden "knows that there are very strong feelings, but he will leave the management of the protests to local authorities." Source: National Iraqi News Agency