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Anti-Israel student protests continue at various US universities. Massive arrests are also going on to suppress the protests. Last Friday (May 10), police removed protesters from Massachusetts University of Technology as well as University of Pennsylvania. Dozens of students were also arrested. On the same day, the police dispersed the protesters at the University of Arizona.
The international news agency AP reports that University of Pennsylvania campus police and the Philadelphia police department began operations to remove the protesting students around noon local time on Friday. The students occupied the place for almost two weeks.
Initially, police officials said that 33 people have been arrested. Among those arrested are teachers and seven students. They have been charged with trespassing. On the other hand, it is said from the side of the university, 9 students have been arrested, the rest are outsiders.
Pro-Palestinian protests have erupted across the United States and Europe in recent weeks. The students demand that universities end their activities with Israel and Israeli institutions in the context of the Gaza war.
Earlier on Thursday, police were seen descending on the University of Arizona in Tucson with riot gear. At that time they fired tear gas at the protestors. In addition, police arrested 13 people from New Mexico State University last Thursday night.
There were also protests at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But protesters there agreed to permanently pull up their two-week-old tents on Friday. They also said that they will not disturb the convocation ceremony. However, in return, they wanted to sit in a meeting with the policy makers of the university by July 1.
Pomona College in Southern California moved the convocation ceremony because of the protesters. The convocation ceremony will be held 65 km away from the main campus.
Incidentally, the protest started about three weeks ago at Columbia University in New York City. It started spreading to other educational institutions. Some universities take immediate action. Others give time to the protestors. Recently, many universities have seen police evacuate protesters. Source: AP
Bangladesh /SS
