Violence flares at UCLA as police end protests at New York’s Columbia

Tensions escalated on U.S. campuses as clashes erupted between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian groups. At UCLA, pro-Israeli supporters attacked pro-Palestinian protesters, leading to the cancellation of classes and an investigation by the university. Similar confrontations occurred at Columbia University, where activists were arrested after occupying a building. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the violence, as did New York Mayor Eric Adams, where about 300 people were arrested. These incidents mark a surge in student activism, with protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza and calls for divestment from companies supporting the Israeli government. Republican lawmakers have accused some university administrators of neglecting antisemitic rhetoric, while protesters, including Jewish individuals, deny these claims. President Joe Biden, criticized for supporting Israel, plans to address antisemitism at a Holocaust memorial event.

Source – CGTN