Earlier this year, disruptive protests rocked American colleges. The protests raised big questions about rights to free speech and the role of law enforcement. But where did it all begin?
On October 7, 2023, Hamas terrorists raided Israel, killing over a thousand people and taking dozens of hostages. In response, Israel declared war and began bombarding Hamas-controlled Gaza. Thousands of Palestinian civilians died in the strikes. (For a fuller explanation of the conflict, read Hamas Attacks, Israel Declares War.)
Many believe Israel’s response is a justified reaction to atrocities committed by and threats made by Hamas. Others claim Israel has gone too far and is attempting genocide against the Palestinian people.
Across the United States, college students—and even some professors—took part in pro-Palestinian protests. They demanded their schools stop supporting Israeli or pro-Israeli businesses. The protests began peacefully—but not all of them ended that way.
It started at Columbia University in New York City. Students camped on the lawn and set up barricades. They occupied Hamilton Hall, an administration building. They draped pro-Palestinian banners from balconies. Due to the tense situation, Columbia canceled its graduation ceremonies.
Then came the counter-protesters. At the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), counter-protesters attacked the pro-Palestinian encampment. They wore masks and used pepper spray, injuring more than a dozen people.
The U.S. Constitution enshrines (elevates and protects) free speech. People have the right to gather and share their opinions—even bad opinions. In a world where evil is called good, unpopular thoughts often require protection. The founders understood that.
But just because something is a right, does that make it right?
The campus protests went beyond speech. They caused disruption. Some demonstrators used their speech to tear down others, hurling anti-Semitic (anti-Jewish) words at Jewish students. At schools like Columbia, many Jewish students said they felt unsafe.
On some campuses, the police intervened. Officers cleared protesters from Hamilton Hall without incident. But at other schools—such as UCLA—students refused to budge. This led to violent clashes between police and protesters. In St. Louis, Missouri, a professor suffered nine broken ribs and a broken hand when officers arrested him. Officials detained more than 2,100 protesters nationwide.
Some students believe authorities violated the protesters’ rights. “This is too intense,” says Fabien Lugo. He’s a student at Columbia, but he wasn’t involved in the protests. “It feels like more of an escalation than a de-escalation.”
Historians say this year’s protests are far from America’s ugliest. In the 1960s and ’70s, many students protested against the Vietnam War. Some marches and rallies turned violent. At Kent State University, the National Guard shot four protesters.
When entering tense situations, such as protests, police officers face a tricky problem. They want to prevent chaos and violence. Many are trained to de-escalate conflicts. But protesters might see them not as peacekeepers, but as powerful entities intending to squash their message. The appearance of armed officers in riot gear can heighten tensions for demonstrators who are whipped up over insistence that their objections must be heard. That can lead to the very violence law enforcement wants to avoid.
Human governments, and the rights they protect, are gifts from God. But even a good gift can be twisted. Speech can turn into hate. Resistance can turn into riot. Law and order can turn into violence. He can we steward these gifts well instead?
Why? When we abuse our rights, we risk losing them.
