Protests against the Israel-Hamas conflict are escalating on university campuses across the country, including at the University of California, Berkeley in California.
According to NBC Bay Area News, students at Berkeley set up several tents outside Sproul Hall, demanding the university divest from companies that manufacture weapons used by Israel against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. The university released a statement on Monday, stating that with three weeks left in the semester, Berkeley will prioritize students’ academic interests and take necessary measures to ensure that protests do not disrupt the university’s operations. There are no plans to change the university’s investment policies and practices.
On Monday night, protesters at California State University, Humboldt set up camp inside a building, intending to stay overnight and force the closure of the campus. The university described the situation as “dangerous and unstable.” These protests coincided with the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover.
In 2024, Passover began before sunset on Monday, April 22 and will end after nightfall on Tuesday, April 30 in the United States.
On the East Coast, dozens of protesters were arrested at New York University and Columbia University.
The FBI stated that hate crimes against Jewish people have doubled since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 last year. The bureau is particularly concerned that lone actors may target gatherings during the Passover period that began on Monday night.