The University of Pennsylvania requested greater support from U.S. police on Friday as pro-Palestinian protests intensified on campus, according to CNN. Statistics from NBC News reported that over 2,100 arrests have been made related to university protests.
Footage showed a camp set up by students in a courtyard at the University of Washington in Seattle in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where demonstrators demanded the university cut ties with Israel, as well as with Boeing, which they claimed manufactures the attack helicopters used in Gaza. Protesters called on President Joe Biden, who supported Israel's right to defend itself, to do more to stop the bloodshed in Gaza, as well as urging universities to divest from companies that support the Israeli government.
Additional footage captured by an eyewitness showed protesters clashing with police at Portland State University amid tense scenes on American campuses between police and pro-Palestinian demonstrators. According to the Portland Police Bureau, at least 12 people were arrested during the confrontations, including four students.
President Biden stated that some are seeking to achieve political aims through the protests occurring at American universities and educational institutions, which have called for a change in the current administration's policy regarding the war in Gaza. Biden added on the platform X that peaceful protesting is protected by law in America, while violent protests are not protected and are against the law.
Pro-Palestinian protests calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment from companies linked to Israel have spread across several American universities in the past two weeks since Columbia University officials called the police to remove a camp on the university's campus in New York City.
