Students at the University of Minnesota have continued their protests for a third day, joining other colleges across the nation to demand an end to the violence in Gaza.
They marched to the alumni center and presented a list of demands to the Board of Regents, urging the university to divest from companies like Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Boeing, and Honeywell, and to prohibit these companies from recruiting on campus.
They are also calling for divestment from Israeli institutions involved in militarized activities in Gaza, including Tel Aviv University, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Haifa University, and Global E3’s Technion.
Nationwide, hundreds of people have been arrested as part of these protests, pressing the U.S. government for stronger action against Israel over the conflict in Gaza.
Some universities have even canceled in-person classes and graduation ceremonies. Earlier this week, nine individuals were arrested at the University of Minnesota for setting up an encampment on campus.
These demonstrations coincide with Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, where the Hamas-runHealth Ministry reports a death toll of over 34,000, primarily women and children.
The Students for Democratic Society vow to persist until their demands are met.
“Our demands are straightforward: immediate divestment of all university investments in Israel, severing all academic and economic ties with Israel, and amnesty for anyone arrested or facing consequences for protesting,” stated Jasper Nordin of SDS. “We also demand no retaliation against the student movement.”
However, these protests have made some Jewish students feel unsafe on campus. They expressed hope for a resolution to the overseas conflict to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.
