Protests organized in American universities denouncing arrest of supporters of Palestine

SANAA, May 06 (YPA) – Coordinated protests were held at Columbia, Georgetown, and Tufts Universities in the United States, denouncing the arrest of academics and students who supported the Palestinian cause.

The protests demanded the release of Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Suri, Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia University, and Turkish student Rumeysa Ozturk, a doctoral student at Tufts University, who were arrested for their support of Palestine.

Students and academics at Georgetown, Columbia, and Tufts Universities continue to hold demonstrations every Monday, demanding the release of Badar Khan Suri, Mahmoud Khalil, and Rumeysa Ozturk.

On March 8, US authorities arrested Mahmoud Khalil, who led solidarity protests at Columbia University last year, denouncing the genocide being committed by Israel in the Gaza Strip.

As of March, the United States had revoked the visas and legal status of more than 1,000 students, while several students filed lawsuits against the Trump administration over the revocations, and temporary orders were issued to restore the legal status of a few students.

Protests in support of Palestine that began at Columbia University spread to more than 50 universities across the country, and police detained more than 3,100 people, mostly students and faculty members.