With the spring semester wrapping up, April and May are often the most stressful months for college students. While this year is no exception, it’s for an entirely different reason.

Around the world colleges have become an increased zone of tension as students, faculty and administration have established pro-Palestinian encampments on major foot traffic areas of their campuses. 

Most protests call for major demands: remain transparent and publicize all university investments and holdings, divest from all financial holdings in companies that have ties to Israel and offer amnesty to student protestors who have been arrested and/or academically disciplined.

The protests have largely been peaceful. Many encampments feature diverse libraries, medical cites, food areas separated by dietary restrictions and have provided space for prayer, cultural dances, signage, artwork and marches around campus. 

However, there have also been individuals, both in and out of the movements, that have made antisemitic comments. 

For example, several protestors demonstrated and expressed explicit support for Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for the gruesome killings of some 1,200 Israelis and foreigners on Israeli soil on Oct. 7.  

Insinuating or explicitly stating that any person and/or group should have a terrorist organization commit acts of violence against them is inhumane. 

Many pro-Israel protests and movements have gotten out of hand across campuses, as well. 

Most notably, University of California Los Angeles’ (UCLA) pro-Palestine protestors were met with fireworks, violence and attempts to storm their encampments by pro-Israel counter-protestors, according to UCLA’s independent student-run newspaper the Daily Bruin. 

The article stated that security and the university’s police department both retreated as the attacks ensued, leaving students to fend for themselves. Multiple student journalists were also attacked by the counter-protestors. 

Daily Bruin news editor Catherine Hamilton was reportedly singled out by an individual who had previously verbally harassed her and taken pictures of her press badge. The individual then instructed the group to encircle four student journalists before spraying them with Mace or pepper spray, flashed lights in their faces and chanted Hamilton’s name, according to the La Times. 

When trying to break free, Hamilton was repeatedly punched in the chest and upper abdomen while other student journalists were pushed to the ground, beaten and kicked for nearly a minute. 

People, largely students, could have died. Many are lucky only to be walking away with non-serious injuries. 

Up until this point, the protests observed on UCLA’s campus were largely peaceful. Not only was the violence and force that they were met with unacceptable, but the police’s lack of response is also unjustifiable. 

A spokesperson for the University of California Divestment Coalition said in a statement in the Daily Bruin article that during the counter-protest attack “law enforcement simply stood at the edge of the lawn and refused to budge as we screamed for their help.” 

Students and those using violence, except as a means for self-defense, should be immediately barred from campus, expelled and held accountable for their crimes. An extensive investigation into the University Campus Police Department and the Los Angeles Police Department’s lack of preparedness and response is also necessary. 

Disruptive and uncomfortable for the masses not participating

While protests should be peaceful, they are intended to be disruptive and uncomfortable for the masses not participating, as well as the powers and policies being addressed. 

At its core, academia encourages free speech and active participation in public conversation. An academic institution disagreeing with students’ position or believing that their speech is controversial is not a valid reason to call the police, national guard or any other military force.  

To the university presidents and personnel that called the police when the protestors posed no threat to themselves, others or the institution, you failed them. 

Your actions created further polarized politics of the land. The encampments are now consequently portrayed as dangerous and unanimously antisemitic, instead of cultural celebrations and solidarity movements for the over 34,000 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis murdered, most of which are women and children. 

These movements are now further entrenched in violent anti-Jew, anti-Israeli and anti-Palestinian rhetoric. 

Regardless of your politician stance, you can be pro-people and anti-government. You can love your nation, heritage and culture and also demand more from those abusing their power in your country’s name. 

Pushing our means of civilization to include rights and protection of all

Moreover, learning must always include active and contemporary debates that push our means of civilization to include the rights and protection of all. An argument could be made that a decorum of calmness must be present when properly educating. 

But, participating in disruption further enhances our democracy, social movements and educational institutions as a whole. Rather, this current fight is likely not a one-off for protestors, but a passion that will produce future freedom fighters, activists, and workers in social service that are desperately needed.

Many witnesses and anti-protestors, both on and off campuses, have raised concerns that these encampments are decidedly “anti-American.” Such sentiments are entirely ironic as protest movements have been part of U.S. history since the very beginning and have resulted in major changes.

The abolition of slavery, restrictions on the sale of alcohol, women’s right to vote, labor rights, segregation prohibition, Vietnam War protests, fights for gay rights, and thousands of other movements all sparked changes that continue to impact our lives today. 

Universities have a serious obligation to protect Jewish students from antisemitism, just as they have an obligation to protect all marginalized students from harmful rhetoric, actions and unjust treatment. The safety of students and their rights must always be ensured. 

Regardless of your stance on Israel and Palestine, I would hope that you can recognize how crucial change is to our democracy. I would hope that you can see the strength in individuals turning their anger over unjust and suffering into peaceful actions and words.  

While students continue to share their voices, Hamas has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar as of May 6, according to CNN. 

The Israeli government was reportedly reviewing the Hamas response.   

Editor’s note: Jessica Mills is a freelance writer for San Diego Community Newspaper Group.

Photo credit: Natali Gonzalez