By Aaron Miller-
Tensions have escalated at university campuses across the United States after 93 arrests at South Californian Universities at protests against the ongoing conflict in Gaza intensify.
Recent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement have led to numerous arrests and highlighted the deep divisions surrounding the issue.
At the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, 93 individuals were arrested on suspicion of trespassing during a pro-Palestinian demonstration.
Riot police dismantled a makeshift encampment at the heart of the campus, sparking confrontations with protesters.
Similar scenes unfolded at the University of Texas in Austin, where mounted police dispersed demonstrators, leading to chaotic confrontations.
Students at schools including Yale University, New York University, Harvard University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Southern California, and more have launched protests.
House Speaker Mike Johnson joined his New York House Republican colleagues during a visit to in calling on the school’s president, Minouche Shafik, to resign unless she can improve what he called her failure to handle the anti-Israel protests on campus.
During the news conference held on the university’s campus, Johnson said Shafik should step down “if she can’t immediately bring order to this chaos.”
“As speaker of the House, I am committing today that the Congress will not be silent as Jewish students are expected to run for their lives and stay home from — fighting in fear,” Johnson said.
Protests in many of America’s colleges are set for another day of pro-Palestinian protest and disruption with sit-ins, rallies and walkouts planned across the country.
Activists at Georgetown, Penn State and Syracuse universities are all scheduled to hold rallies or protests at 10.30 a.m. ET, while more are planned throughout the day at Fordham, Purdue, Indiana, Brown, Stanford, and many more.
Governor Greg Abbott deployed the National Guard to quell the protests, emphasizing a zero-tolerance approach.
The protests come in the wake of escalating tensions in the Gaza conflict, with universities becoming focal points for expressions of solidarity and activism.
Demonstrators have called for an end to Israeli military actions against Palestine, and have demanded that universities divest from companies supporting the conflict.
However, the protests have not been without controversy.
Some pro-Israel and Jewish groups have raised concerns about antisemitic elements within the demonstrations, while others have highlighted incidents of harassment targeting Jewish students.
Amidst the demonstrations, universities are dealing with security concerns and navigating complex social and political dynamics. USC recently faced controversy over the cancellation of a valedictorian speech by a Muslim student, citing security concerns amidst heightened tensions.