History Jonathan Milner History Jonathan Milner

In how many states have student protesters been arrested?

Critical Analysis

Find answers to the following questions using the visual above, any links below, your big brain, and your knowledge of American government and politics:

  1. On October 7, Hamas militants entered Israel, killed over 1,160 people, and took hundreds of hostages. In retaliation, Israel’s military invaded Gaza resulting in more than 34,535 Palestinian deaths. At scores of colleges across the United States, student demonstrators are demanding, among other things, a ceasefire in Gaza and divestment (taking money out of any investments) in companies that support the Gaza war. A recent crackdown on demonstrators at Columbia University in New York spawned a wave of activism at universities across the country, with more than 1,300 arrests. Based on the visual above, in how many states have student protesters been arrested?

  2. According to the visual below* describe the change in the number of protests over time.

  3. Here is a list of colleges where protesters have been arrested. In some colleges like Columbia, protesting students have been forcefully removed from campus by the administration. In others, like Brown, administrators have negotiated with protesters and given in to some of their demands. How does the decision of a college administration regarding student protests impact your decision about where to attend college?

  4. In Letter From a Birmingham Jail, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. argued that because “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” civil disobedience (protest) is an appropriate response. Make a claim about when protest is justifiable?

  5. The 1964 Civil Rights Act and 1965 Voting Rights Act resulted in a huge expansion of American Civil Rights. Those policies would not have happened without the Civil Rights Movement. In general, how would you describe the connection between social movements and policy change.

  6. Explain how someone supporting protesters could use the First Amendment to make an argument for their free speech rights.

  7. Explain how someone opposed to the protesters could use the ruling in Schenck v. U.S. to make an argument against protesters’ free speech rights.

  8. What issue do you care enough about that you would be willing to be arrested?

  9. Most of the college protesters are young - the very voters President Biden needs to win reelection. How do you think these protests will impact the 2024 election?

  10. In Letter From a Birmingham Jail, Dr. King also wrote, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” What do you think is going to happen with the protests next?

Write and Discuss

Take ten minutes to write about the question at the top of the page and then discuss with your classmates.

Act on your Learning

Contact Columbia University @Columbia or Brown University @BrownUniversity on X and let them know what you think of their policy towards protesters.

Get Creative

What poster or slogan would you make at a Gaza protest or counter protest.

Learning Extension*

 
 
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