Police thwarted an attempt by anti-Israel protesters at UCLA to smuggle food into their encampment using a robot courier. The protesters had set up barricades and a new encampment, prompting a significant police presence. Despite efforts to deliver supplies, including food and water, police and campus security have blocked all entrances. The situation has escalated, with more protesters arriving and clashes occurring. UCLA Chancellor Gene Block testified before Congress regarding the protests, and the university received a low grade from the Anti-Defamation League for its handling of antisemitism.
Anti-Israel protesters, including activist Susan Sarandon, continue demonstrations at Columbia University despite mass arrests, with a large police presence reported. Chants against the NYPD and in support of Palestine were heard, and demands include the university's financial investments and dropping charges for involved students. The university president has faced criticism for failing to protect Jewish students, while the NYPD was invited to the campus to address the protests.
Lefty reps AOC and Rashida Tlaib criticized the arrest of Ilhan Omar’s daughter, Isra Hirsi, during Columbia University’s anti-Israel protest, calling it "appalling." Hirsi, a Barnard College junior, was among 108 protestors arrested and suspended after the NYPD cleared out the tent encampment. Ocasio-Cortez questioned the crackdown on Palestinian human rights protests, while Tlaib condemned the retaliation against students exercising their constitutional rights. The college administration warned students and began issuing suspensions for involvement in the protest.
Jewish students at Columbia University expressed relief and support for the removal of over 100 anti-Israel protesters who had set up an encampment on campus, leading to fears for their safety. The protesters were arrested by NYPD after Columbia's president authorized the clearance. Students commended the university and police for enforcing rules and ensuring safety, with some describing the protests as antisemitic and disruptive to the campus community.
Rep. Ilhan Omar questioned Columbia University's president about an alleged "toxic chemical substance" attack on anti-Israel protesters, which was later revealed to be a non-toxic flatulence spray. A lawsuit filed by a pro-Israel student suspended for releasing the substance clarified that it was a novelty fart spray. Columbia's president refuted Omar's characterization, stating it was an "odorous substance" and that many affected students declined support. The incident has sparked controversy and legal action, with conflicting accounts from both sides.
A commuter, Ronald Davis, expressed frustration over the recent anti-Israel protest that blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge for six hours, causing him to miss work and lose wages needed for his brother's funeral. He criticized the protest as an inconvenience and felt that the police handled the situation too gently, releasing arrested protesters back to their vehicles. The protest resulted in 26 arrests, and the district attorney is considering false imprisonment charges. Davis described the impact on himself and others as devastating and unfair.
A protester at Columbia University was arrested for repeatedly hitting and scratching an NYPD officer during ongoing anti-Israel protests, with at least three others also detained. The protests turned violent as demonstrators clashed with police, resulting in multiple arrests and charges including assault on a police officer, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental administration. The protesters demanded the university divest from Israel, chanting anti-Israel slogans and occupying the campus with tents despite a rainstorm.
Anti-Israel agitators at Columbia University set up a "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" and chanted anti-Israel slogans, leading to arrests. Columbia University President testified before Congress on antisemitism spikes, with House GOP challenging the university's handling of anti-Jewish protests and a tenured professor's antisemitic remarks. The university issued notices to protesters to leave the campus, citing safety concerns and policy violations. The congressional hearing also discussed consequences for students involved in antisemitic demonstrations.
A video captured an anti-Israel student protester interrupting a dinner party at the home of Berkeley Law School's Jewish dean, Erwin Chemerinsky, and his wife, Professor Catherine Fisk, demanding the university divest from corporations funding Israel's role in the war. Chemerinsky expressed sadness over the disruption and revealed he had been the target of antisemitic harassment. The student, Malak Afaneh, felt assaulted and was considering pressing charges, while Chemerinsky announced plans to hold future events with security and warned of reporting disruptive students to the student conduct code and the Bar.
An anti-Israel protester vandalized a 1914 painting of British politician Arthur James Balfour, who supported the creation of the Jewish state, at the University of Cambridge's Trinity College. The act was claimed by Palestine Action and aimed to symbolize the Palestinian suffering since the Balfour Declaration in 1917. The organization's action was in response to the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas. Trinity College expressed regret over the damage, and the police are investigating the incident.
Times Square was evacuated after a grenade was found in the back of an Uber in Midtown Manhattan, with anti-Israel protestors blocking NYPD from reaching the device. The driver discovered the explosive after dropping off a passenger and alerted the police, who eventually established a security perimeter around the vehicle. Thousands of protestors had been marching through New York City as part of a 'global day of action' opposing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, leading to several arrests by the NYPD.
Banners at an anti-Israeli protest in London displayed antisemitic conspiracy theories, with one mocking the Jewish connection to Israel. The rally included speakers like Jeremy Corbyn, and city authorities made arrests for offenses such as setting off flares and inciting racial hatred.
Two gunmen took seven hostages at a Procter & Gamble factory in Turkey, apparently in protest of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The suspects, who entered the facility in Gebze, Kocaeli, are said to be highlighting the loss of life in Gaza. Turkish President Erdogan has been outspoken against Israel, and public sentiment in Turkey has turned against Israel and the U.S. since the conflict began. The U.S. Embassy in Ankara had previously issued a warning about demonstrations critical of U.S. foreign policy. The suspects allowed the hostages to celebrate a birthday inside the facility.
Anti-Israel student demonstrators at Columbia University claim they were sprayed with a chemical during a protest, causing headaches, fatigue, and nausea. The university has banned the alleged perpetrators from campus and is working with authorities to investigate the incident, which some claim was a hate crime. The unsanctioned protest by Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace violated university policies, leading to threats of interim sanctions.
Actress Melissa Barrera, who was fired from "Scream VII" over controversial remarks on the Israel-Gaza conflict, joined an anti-Israel protest at the Sundance Film Festival, causing traffic disruptions. The protest, organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Association of Utah, drew about 100 participants chanting anti-Israel slogans. The festival distanced itself from the protest, emphasizing the safety of attendees. The incident occurred amid a growing online movement called "Film Workers For Palestine" and a panel on antisemitism at the festival.
