Pro-Palestinian student protests are ongoing at several universities across the US, with calls for divestment from Israel and demands for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. These demonstrations have become more organized, featuring encampments and sit-ins to protest against investments that support Israel's military actions in Gaza. The wave of protests began last month and has seen significant police intervention, with incidents of violence and arrests reported. The New York Times highlighted a major protest at the University of Chicago, where demonstrators took over the Institute of Politics on Friday afternoon, displaying signs demanding a "permanent ceasefire now." Despite police orders to disperse, the protesters at the University of Chicago remained in place as of late Friday. Meanwhile, academic workers at the University of California (UC), Santa Cruz, have announced plans to strike starting Monday, protesting the university's handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. This strike, reported by the New York Times, involves approximately 2,000 members and stems from concerns over free speech, safety, and unfair labor practices. At the University of California, Los Angeles, the Academic Senate held votes on motions for a no-confidence vote and censure against Chancellor Gene Block regarding his response to a pro-Palestinian encampment attack, but these motions did not pass. Overall, nearly 3,000 protesters have been arrested at US university campuses since the protests began last month, according to Axios. — Agencies
