The student movement for Palestine has faced repression and punishment, despite its demands for freedom of expression and speech in the US. Both political parties have ignored the majority of Americans who oppose sending weapons to Israel, instead choosing to arm them further. Student protests have been met with deportation threats, arrests, and even resignations of university presidents. The movement began at Columbia University, spreading to over 61 campuses, with over 2,950 people arrested. Universities have responded by enacting draconian policies to limit protests and criticism of Israel.
As the new academic year begins, the struggle continues, with ongoing repression of student protests across the country. Despite bipartisan support for Israel, students remain committed to fighting against genocide and injustice. The US policy of denial towards Palestine persists, with both Democrats and Republicans neglecting the demands of the student movement. The settler colonial logic shared by the US and Israel denies the existence and rights of those they colonized.
Author Samar Saeed, a Ph.D. candidate at Georgetown University, sheds light on the ongoing struggle for Palestinian rights in the US.