Palestine protests - what to do

I am hearing from one side that National Guard should be called. Given what happened at Kent State in 1970, I think this would make the issue worse. MUCH, MUCH WORSE. Generally, trying to forcefully remove people may seem like you are protecting people, but instead you are making things worse.

On the other hand, these protests have gotten serious and violent. How does one restore safety to campuses without infringing upon rights? We do have rights in the USA. If your campus is closed to students only, you can arrest non students. But if your campus is open (like most universities) - that's tough. I was once escorted off of a college campus for being a non-student. In my case, I walked onto a campus at night, by myself, not knowing I was on a campus. The campus police put me in the back of a police car and drove me off, saying they cannot charge me with anything, but they can warn me that I was trespassing and if I came back on campus without official business they could charge me with trespassing because I have already been warned. Not sure if that was legal, but I didn't test it.

So, what do people like Mike Johnson expect to be done? Clearly there is unchecked antisemitism amongst many of these protesters. And clearly there are non-student agitators joining the crowd. But what many people don't know, is that there are many Jewish people amongst the protesters, also protesting funding Israel's war machine, and the treatment of Palestinians. And they are facing harassment - from fellow jews and other Israel supporters.

I just feel like it is hard to find the truth here. I should point out that I have a Jewish family member who is faculty at Columbia, and she isn't fearful for her life. She seems to be more concerned with having to teach online classes for the rest of the semester.

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Ynotisay · M

Mike Johnson's expectations have nothing to do with quelling any potential violence. That's not why he and his photo opps boys were there. They got booed up and down so..fail.

Columbia is a private university. Johnson, and other politicians, have no leg to stand on. If there's real violence then it's a matter for the police.

I have my own opinions about these protests. Personally don't think they have much to do with the political realities around Gaza. I think they see innocent people being killed and are responding. Which is totally valid. But to extend it to the point that they are tells me that it's more about raging against....anything. These are young people who come from money ($90K a year to attend) wanting to be a part of something. I think it now falls under virtue signaling and that only happens if there's an "enemy." My take is that most couldn't point to Gaza on a map.

College kids during the Vietnam era protesting against an action that directly impacted their generation? That's a TOTALLY different animal. This isn't that.

trollslayer · 46-50, M

@Ynotisay tend to agree. I was in college once. Plenty of kids “against” something for its own sake.

Ynotisay · M

@trollslayer Yep. I was the same way. There's a certain self-importance at the age for a lot of people and when "making your voice heard" is on the table for the first time with peers it can be attractive. I was protesting Thursdays. It was the act of protesting. The issue was secondary.

Handfull1 · 61-69, F

@Ynotisay I think it’s so true. Maybe part of it is sheer frustration. They see the world on their own for the first time and possibly realize it will be theirs to fix! And it eventually will be!