Protests shut down U.S. colleges as Gaza war enters critical moment

Here’s a look at the conflict in Gaza as well as the protests at colleges across the country.

Arrests continue as protests sweep college campuses

What you probably already know: Students across the U.S. have occupied buildings, streets and spaces to protest in support of Palestine. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, schools have canceled commencement and other campus events, and many more students have been suspended. This has raised concern about safety of Jewish students and faculty as incidences of antisemitism have risen. UCLA canceled all classes Wednesday after pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with counterprotesters overnight.

Why? Approximately 34,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war started last year, including many children, and students are critical of the U.S.’s involvement in what they have labeled genocide of the Palestinian people. College administrators have turned to local police to help as protests veer toward vandalism and even violence.

What it means: The New York Times has a great piece on how these protests have evolved and taken on issues of racism, climate change and policing in recent weeks. The protests come as the Biden administration works to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas and a temporary pause in the fighting.

What happens now? Pro-Israel groups are responding with counter protests, which has college administrators increasingly concerned about the potential for violence as the two groups come into contact on campus. While colleges and law enforcement struggle to keep the peace, the protests are getting international attention. Groups have gathered in Gaza to thank the students for their support, while the Biden administration struggles to navigate the political implications of the U.S.’s continued financial support of Israel.

What are business leaders saying? Most business leaders have remained publicly silent on the protests and current state of the war in Gaza. That’s not surprising after CEOs came under fire last fall for commenting on the initial Hamas attack on Israel. But pressure from younger employees could change that. InterAction, the largest U.S.-based alliance of international NGOs, put out a statement signed by many of its member CEOs last week. It’s worth a read if you’re working on any official or internal communication.