Anti-Israel protests on US campuses escalate – 34 arrested in violent clashes at UT Austin

At least 34 people were arrested by local and state police at the University of Texas in Austin on Wednesday, amid violent clashes between the security forces and anti-Israel protesters.

“Arrests being made right now and will continue until the crowd disperses. These protesters belong in jail. Antisemitism will not be tolerated in Texas. Period,” Governor Greg Abbot wrote on 𝕏.

“Students joining in hate-filled, antisemitic protests at any public college or university in Texas should be expelled,” he added.

The demonstration at UT Austin began when hundreds of students walked out of their classes to protest against Israel amid the current war in Gaza, demanding the university divest from companies contributing to Israel’s war effort, according to the Guardian.

Forces from the Austin Police Department (APD) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) attempted to stop the march on the campus by forming a line, and calling on the protesters to leave.

“I command you in the name of the people of the state of Texas to disperse,” the police demanded over loudspeakers.

Check out what happens at the University of Texas when you try to have a pro-Hamas rally. Love to see it. Leadership matters. pic.twitter.com/1zaLksaQ6S

— Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) April 24, 2024

“APD, KKK, IDF – they’re all the same,” some protesters chanted. The DPS later told FOX News the arrests were made “in order to prevent any unlawful assembly and to support UT Police in maintaining the peace by arresting anyone engaging in any sort of criminal activity, including criminal trespass.”

Footage on social media showed scuffles between protesters and police forces, who arrested 34 demonstrators.

UT Austin President Jay Hartzell released a statement about the protest activities, calling it a "challenging day."

"Today, our University held firm, enforcing our rules while protecting the Constitutional right to free speech," he added.

"Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable. Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others’ ability to learn are not allowed."

The clashes at UT Austin were the latest escalation in a series of anti-Israel demonstrations spreading across American university campuses. On Wednesday, scuffles with police were also reported at the University of Southern California and the California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt.

Demonstrations initially began last week at Columbia University in New York City, where police arrested over 100 protesters while clearing an encampment.

On Wednesday, according to The Guardian, more than 60 protest tents were still standing at Columbia, with the situation remaining calm.

New York Mayor Eric Adams slammed pro-Hamas sentiments among protesters during a WABC 7 radio interview on Wednesday, stressing there was “no room for hate in our city to praise Hamas, which is a terrorist group and must be destroyed and dismantled.”

He added that the “disgusting” terminology being used in chants and flyers are “not who we are.”

“No one wants to see innocent lives lost in Palestine, but we have to bring home the hostages, and we have to dismantle and destroy Hamas,” said the mayor, who has been among Israel’s most consistent public supporters during the current war.

On Wednesday, U.S. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson visited the Columbia campus with several GOP lawmakers and called for President Joe Biden to bring the National Guard to clear the encampment.

“This is dangerous. This is not the First Amendment, this is not free expression,” Johnson said as protesters attempted to shout him down.

“If this is not contained quickly and if these threats and intimidation are not stopped, there is an appropriate time for the National Guard,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also condemned the rallies led by “antisemitic mobs” and urged administrators to stop them.  

“What’s happening in America’s college campuses is horrific. Antisemitic mobs have taken over leading universities. They call for the annihilation of Israel. They attack Jewish students. They attack Jewish faculty. This is reminiscent of what happened in German universities in the 1930s,” he said.

“It’s unconscionable. It has to be stopped. It has to be condemned and condemned unequivocally. But that’s not what happened. The response of several university presidents was shameful,” Netanyahu argued.