Protests erupt on Durham campus

This Durham campus protest is not an isolated incident; it is intricately linked to the current international situation. Since Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has escalated dramatically, and the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has drawn global attention. Large-scale student protests have occurred at several American universities, including Columbia University and UCLA, demanding that schools divest from companies with ties to the Israeli military. At the University of Washington’s Seattle campus in Durham, the protests by the student organization “Students United for Palestinian Equality and Return” have further amplified this wave of protests. Just before the interdisciplinary engineering building was to close, dozens of SUPERUW members suddenly stormed into the building, declaring their “occupation.” They blocked the building’s entrances with tables, chairs, electric scooters, and other items, and piled furniture outside to create roadblocks, preventing others from entering. The protesters also hung a banner on the second floor that read “Shabanal – Dalou Building,” symbolically “renaming” the building. Around 10 p.m. that evening, the protest escalated further. Some protesters threw electric scooter batteries into the fire, causing a small explosion and the fire spreading to the surrounding area. The fire department quickly intervened and extinguished the blaze. Protesters chanted slogans such as “Defund the police! Every policeman who dies is a victory for resistance!” The atmosphere was extremely tense. At 10:30 p.m., the University of Washington campus police, with the assistance of the Seattle Police Department and the Washington State Patrol, began a clearing operation. Around 11 p.m., police in riot gear forcibly entered the building and arrested the protesters still inside one by one, and the scene completely spiraled out of control. The protest left the building and surrounding area in disarray, drawing widespread public attention. Those arrested face multiple charges, including trespassing, vandalism, and disorderly conduct. This incident reflects the students’ concern and participation in international affairs, and also prompts deeper reflection on issues such as campus freedom, academic freedom, and political interference. For universities, how to protect students’ right to express their demands while maintaining normal order and safety on campus is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed. This Durham campus protest serves as a wake-up call, reminding us that changes in the international situation can have a profound impact on campuses. We need to pay more attention to and understand the students’ demands, while also finding a balance between maintaining order and protecting freedom.