Drexel University in Philadelphia has issued a warning to remove an encampment of pro-Palestinian protesters as arrests related to campus protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict have surpassed 3,000 nationwide. Drexel President John Fry stated that the encampment has disrupted campus activities and must be removed immediately. While classes were conducted virtually on Monday, police monitored the demonstration on the school's Korman Quad, prompting many Drexel employees to work remotely.
Protesters across various campuses in the U.S. have established tent encampments to urge colleges to sever financial ties with Israel. Tensions escalated following a police crackdown on an encampment at Columbia University on April 18, leading to over 3,000 arrests on campuses in the past month. Despite a decrease in recent disruptions as students depart for summer break, colleges remain vigilant during commencement ceremonies.
At Drexel, Fry accused protesters of creating a hostile environment through antisemitic speech and targeting faculty, staff, and Jewish groups on campus. The protesters demanded actions such as a Gaza ceasefire, divestment from companies linked to Israel, and the dissolution of the Drexel police department and Jewish campus organizations.
While the Drexel Palestine Coalition has not responded to Fry's ultimatum, they refuted claims of hateful actions and accused Drexel and city police of harassment. Drexel plans to resume normal operations gradually, with some classes returning in person on Tuesday.
Elsewhere, graduate students at the University of California, Santa Cruz, initiated a strike as part of a systemwide protest over administrative responses to pro-Palestinian encampments. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner declined to charge four University of Pennsylvania protesters due to insufficient evidence, while Yale University witnessed a peaceful walkout during its commencement ceremony.
Wesleyan University reached an agreement with student protesters to review possible divestment, resulting in the clearance of their encampment. The Associated Press has documented over 80 incidents of arrests at campus protests since April 18, with more than 3,000 individuals arrested across 61 colleges and universities.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has led to significant casualties on both sides, with the latest outbreak resulting in numerous arrests and demonstrations across U.S. campuses.
