Since the inception of Israeli occupation, with American support, peace-seeking forces in the United States began their widespread protests against the atrocities in Gaza. The American bourgeoisie, along with the police, judiciary, and mainstream media, attempted to mobilize people against the anti-war forces in Gaza by accusing them of anti-Semitism. However, the anti-genocide forces not only did not retreat but organized their protests more effectively by setting up “solidarity camps with the people of Gaza” by students.
On April 17, 2024, the students of Columbia University in New York created the first “solidarity camp with Gaza”. Their first demand was directed towards university authorities, requesting the university to cease investments in companies manufacturing weapons and exporting supplies to Israel; the heavily armed police violently attacked the protesting students, arresting a hundred of them. Police chiefs attempted to disperse them under the pretext that the camps were set up on university-owned land. Most officials in the White House and the states, who are defenders of corporate interests, along with media owned by billionaires, particularly labeled as “anti-Semitic”, focused on campaigning against the Palestinian-supporting students. They praised the police’s inhumane actions against the protesting students. Most legislators also joined in condemning the protests. However, a few representatives, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of the Democratic Socialists of America, strongly condemned the police’s actions against the protesters.
The pro-Israeli bourgeoisie, along with their politicians and police chiefs, were blinded by their crude thinking, thinking they had killed the cat by violently attacking the students of Columbia University, but they were mistaken. Setting up “camps” with the same call, the students immediately spread to other states and countries. Universities such as Texas, Southern California, Yale, Harvard, Austin, Los Angeles, Boston, Rhode Island, San Antonio, Humboldt, and several other universities became active in the “solidarity with the Palestinian people” campaign by setting up camps. This process of struggle with slogans like “Refrain from aiding your murderers!” quickly spread across the country. According to the latest reports, so far, 60 camps have been set up in 60 universities in the United States. They formulated the demand to “cut off investment and make it public” for the entire movement. Fighting students chanted slogans like “Free Gaza!”, “Stop genocide!”, and “Free Palestine!” nationwide. Strikes and protests were also added to the action of setting up camps. Some educational staff and professors also joined the pro-Palestinian students. The “Auto Workers Union”, while repeating the students’ slogans, also raised the issue of “Immediate ceasefire” and “Stop manufacturing equipment for genocide in Gaza!” With the expansion of the camps, police attacks, both mounted and on foot, and the number of arrests increased. Students chanted “Fascist, fascist!” in response. Jewish students advocating peace and supporting Palestine also began a widespread campaign with the slogan “You are anti-Semitic, you are!” to raise awareness. Students tried to illustrate the various forms of financial and arms support from the American bourgeoisie to Israel for nation cleansing in Gaza by providing factual information. They attempted to draw attention to the plight of the Palestinian people to American society by exposing the Israeli army’s brutal actions and genocide in Gaza through the revelation of the massacre of over 34,000 unarmed Palestinian men, women, and children and the injury of about 80,000 defenseless people through starvation and various diseases. Students said and wrote that the intensity of police brutality had not been seen in America even in the seventies.
As a result of the real campaign of the students, a group of Google workers immediately exposed the role of the giant corporation in aiding the Israeli government, for which they were immediately expelled. The militant actions of the anti-war activists in not loading weapons and supplies for Israel also expanded.
The solidarity movements of students in America have turned into a movement and in Europe, students in Britain, France, and Greece have also joined the movement by setting up solidarity camps with the people of Gaza. They have also been subjected to brutal police attacks, especially in France, and have bravely defended themselves.
