Universities have for decades to adopt for what they believed and from fighting for social justice on equal rights to pushing back against global was. Theyve made the voices had. And now the speaking out against as well as will on gauze, which has killed more than fuzzy, 4000 people. In the past 6 months, the protests which began in new Yorks Columbia University intensified last week. The police cracked down followed close the and get to spread to all the universities in the us and even to europe and australia. The students say the right to protest is being crushed and these demonstrations may have an even bigger impact since its an election. Yeah, in the United States, well get the thoughts of august in just a moment for us patsy cohan, broke into our coverage from one protest to George Washington university. And this in cabin is unique because here during the washington university, it didnt exist until thursday morning. The students said they were encouraged to do this because of what happened at columbia. And this is also unique, and this isnt just George Washington. This is students from 8 different schools, universities all around the Washington Area where their main demand is the investments. These are some of the wealthiest schools that the large developments in the country. They want to see more transparency and exactly what they invest in. And also they want to see them divest from any company that does business with israel. And again, thats just one of many demand, and youll notice since theyve been hanging out mask, so the students, thats because many of them the profile, so name purchased to say theyve been docs, theyve had their pictures put on trucks and driven around campus and their information puts online so a lot of masks because there is concern about repercussions that said they say theyre not going to go anywhere until their demands are met. Patty calhane, washington dc for inside story. So lets take a closer look at why University Campuses have become a focal point for growing on positions. The will on garza students at Columbia University in new york setup and gone. So solidarity and comments on april 17th, it appears that tends on campus a day off the columbia present minish suffolk faced a congressional hearing on allegations of anti semitism at the university. She then called in police to discuss the protest as well that a 100 students were arrested in the crackdown, but another comp sprang up, protest of sense and brought to them at least 30 campuses around the us escalating tensions and sparking debates about freedom of speech. Students and demanding the university caught financial ties with companies and a weapons manufacturer as profiting from as well as war last spring. And i guess now and then all joining us from the United States in new york, we have to tell how palestinian gentlest and student at the Columbia University graduate school of journalism in austin, texas. Well be hearing from jeremy story, a story and, and professor for global leadership, history and Public Policy at the university of texas at austin and then washington political strategist. Im full met, senior, congressional aid, rena shaw. Thank you very much. All of you for being with us, jude. Lets start with you. You can give us an idea of the current situation, the at Columbia University on this friday morning, as we record the show because this is where it all began with deadlines to clear that come cant be extended us on. Thank you so much for having me. Absolutely, columbia is where the original encampment took place. I was there for the pitching of the original tense on the south, long before they decided to move to the opposite line after arrest. The situation inside the campus is quite a different from the situation outside the campus. What were seeing right now is students are settling in to the encampment. There are groups of people forming. Theres a lot of community being grown inside. A lot of patients. A lot of um, activities that show solidarity with us, it was palestine. Protests and chance can be heard obviously outside the campus and outside the campus is quite a different story. Protests for palestine have been prevalent since day one of the encampment yesterday. We saw a huge pro is rarely probe test that was organized by 2 extremists from what ive seen on social media is pro, is really, professors were surrounding campus and why pd was present. And cans were heard for and support of israel with bring the hostages home. Meanwhile, inside um service, some pro palestinian students were facing the day and they were getting called names. We heard a few slurs while i was reporting out there. Of the tensions are high outside the campus, but inside the encampment, solidarity is on an extreme high. There is a level of peace inside the encampment. Students are familiar with each other. They are comfortable, you know, its not easy being outside the weather in new york has been should be, uh um, but students have been dedicated in their demands. They are asking that Everyone Center as it, especially when they are talking about the reasoning of the encampment and especially under suppression. Theyre pretty united and stating that all those through them. Usually they have a concern, but they the account is going to get clad. There are concerns certainly negotiations are happening as far as we know. Last night we received an email that negotiations are happening and that and n y, p d sweep is not in sight for yesterday. Everybodys a new day. Negotiations are being updated quite a frequently the campus has a General Assembly nearly every night to announce to students or, and they get mad about updates. As far as we know, we have not heard anything as for today. Okay, jeremy, lets get the idea of the situation of the university of texas where you will, how is the university responding to protests the so the university brought in police to the campus, particularly state police as well as city police and University Police on wednesday. And this made the situation worse, i would say that on our campus, there are a lot of students who are very concerned about whats happening in the middle east. Majority are probably more concerned about the treatment of civilians in gaza and elsewhere. But theres a very large contingent thats also concerned about israel security, and that is really hostages. Were still being held by home us. So the campus has a lot of concern thats being boys, but it has been peaceful. There are no encampments, there was a demonstration on wednesday and the police were brought it to campus. And as ive written about the arrival of the police made things worse, it provoked students and provoked violence with us both via a wireless, between the police and the students. Most of the violence came from the Police Yesterday was much more calm. They were larger demonstrations, but they were peaceful and there was very Little Police presence on campus. So, so far weve had expressions of concern from students, a relatively divided campus, but a campus that is not at war with itself. And weve had a very little wilds. Okay. A reno gets more onto the crack sound and just a moment for sports, when it gets your ideas, we will feelings about the student protests that really has spread across so many University Campuses. You surprise to see the speed and, and the intensity with which its taking hold. This is democracy and action. And i actually think its a very beautiful thing because as a long time political, its spider operative. I can tell you this year of being a president ial election year. So whats on the line here and easy to cited states. One thing that is seemingly widespread has been voter apathy so far because we have the same 2 choices we had in 2020. The American Voter in general bought something new every few years and we dont have that this time around. So what were seeing again is uh, is a lot of worry amongst those of us, of the political clash that really want to see political participation. Were wondering what turnout is going to be like, how the electric field as what i see and move it like this. The students taking a peaceful, non violent actions, expressing their concern about the us government, backing of israel a were more tax peer dont always. I think that the stream we help each and thats not a partisan statement to make. Its just say that this is whats enshrined our constitution, the ability to assemble peacefully, the ability to use your voice, democracy in the streets as an incredible incredible thing. And so i am supportive of the students doing so non violently and peacefully again because this expression again speaks to what is going to be so important on the ballot in november. Okay, well then what, what do we make of the things jump in that because what do you make of the response then to these protests that have by and large as you say being peaceful . Well, i can speak to the congressional response for republic into the house chamber. When they went to Columbia Universitys campus, i was taken aback. Number one, i just let our audience to know that that is such an unusual move. Weve not seen the modern era as somebody who is served to former republican members, the house. If i were still there advising, i would have absolutely advised against it and said it was a bad move on top of it. The word of the speaker and the other members of the house that they were delivering on a private campus calling for the reservation of the president , speaking to students in a way that painted all of that with a broad brush speaking to is beating down to them i mean, the students, no matter where you book from coast to coast, they are the future of this country. These people are elected to serve as your representative. And for them to take that tone, that all of these students assembled were part of the hate field speech. I get it there are bad actors and every move it we should conduct them, but not all students assembled. And these tend to chance bids are out there wanting to salt their fellows. You were students, they are all out there. Can sort of get about americas role and backing. Maybe that young while on the one hand, youre supplying weapons and funds to do what he wants to do and god that without listening to bided. And on the other hand, were sending billions in a humanitarian aid to gaza. This is a hypocrisy the students are concerned about and the rational leader and continue giving unfettered support to is real simply on the basis of all of their religion, i think is a horrible move. And thats not recognizing the separation of church and state. I. Yeah, i mean, i just wanna jump in that because 2 inches of the at Columbia University, where the republican, how speak im like, dont send, visited on wednesdays, is what we know was just talking about what the students feelings towards a public. Im johnsons visit that im to be quite honest. There wasnt much of the reaction from the encampment as far as i was there. A lot of the students are varies very focused on their demands. Theyre very focused on upholding community guidelines. And theyre very focused about they believe that what theyre doing is right. You know, they believed that their voices should be heard. They come from a legacy of student protesters and they are less concerned with freedom of speech, of what the person said. Theyre just kind of concerned more so about whats happening in hudson, theyre complicity. And that i think the, the expected this response, however, it did not really face much the conversations and then and then came at. Were very much so so focused on the, on the investment on Building Community and how to further their solidarity was palestine. And thats been the focus as far as ive been there. Okay, jeremy, and another example of politicians getting involved. There are quite a few that well get to, but this one is the take the texas does not greg alberts cooling these demonstrations anti semitic all day. A, you know, there are certain anti semitic elements invoices that have been heard. There has been some vandalism of the hello center at u t with um, actually submitted the cd and things of that sort. So there had been instances of anti semitism, but certainly on wednesday when the police were called in uh that demonstration happened to be behind my office and them in my office right near where that and i, i was outside for about 45 minutes to an hour during the demonstration, when the police went into the demonstration and i did not hear a single anti semitic chance, i did not see a single anti semitic sign. These were students arguing for free palestine, and then they were jewish students. Theyre arguing for freeing the hostages, and in that case, the video that youre showing now, uh that was a reaction to a demonstration that was free speech. And that was not anticipating. Entered. What about here of about on colombia, what evidence of you seeing if any of anti semitism may have been a couple of instances that have spent quite widely on that media. For example, of assigned being held up pointing towards pro israel student saying this is, these are how massive next target. So we noticed and things like that really dont help the close today or what ive seen in the encampment. There is a very large jewish presence juice. Wheres the service had been essential for the the solidarity encampment in columbia. What ive also seen is there was a press Conference Held by jewish students who were suspended or arrested outside the president s house, where they verbalize that they do not feel comfortable with their jewish voices being used and designing spaces, or used as an excuse for whats happening in the, lets say, i do know that a certain instances have gone viral. I would like to emphasize that the instances have so far been outside of the encampment and there are a lot of, there was a lot of presence, especially in the early days of protel assign protesters that were entering in and out of campus. You know, campus is locked down and access is restricted, but that does not mean that necessarily everyone that is coming in and out as a student. I will also say that certain chance that have been going borrow all taking place outside the campus inside the campus. The saw there it is extremely high between uh, as far as i am, is jewel students and pro palestinian students. And then cabinet is set up to be accessible to all and its very affordable in the even the services that are being provided there. There is a food table that has food nearly for everyone. Theres kosher fluid, theres allowed fluid. So i do want to say that although these instances have happened inside the encampment on the especially jewish voices inside the cabinet, are insisting that the focus should not be on their feelings. It should go back to us. There was an outside the encampment. Yesterdays protest um was quite surprising cuz a few of the demonstrators, um, so were saying remarks that dont necessarily align with the broader idea of what pros rarely professors. Busy thing i think and movements such as this one, there is a lot of people present that not dont necessarily all share the same values. However, in the got the other the encampment, the instances of anti semitism, i have not been able to see or pinpoint and i havent been, i havent been there nearly every day. Okay. For most the day reporting right now when you, when you head judes account of the situation on jeremys accounts, the situation down that in texas it doesnt seem like theres much of a problem with these protests. And yet weve got politicians making more of it then perhaps is necessary. Why of the president s of these universities being hold in front of Congressional Committee hearings to explain the stones on anti semitism the law. Unfortunately, we exist in that they are, were pure political theater seems to when a political points for, for people who sit at the highest purchase of our landed leadership. And there is no other explanation, but that, you know, look on the republican side, even this past fall, if you paid attention to the republican primary debates in which the former governor of South Carolina and for were you in, in bassett, or did you leave was successful in many ways, she talked about the israel being americans only allied in the region. And i talked to a number of democrats over the years as well, especially this past week. And they saying that they dont think by and is taking a different approach than any american president. What i think done was that the core of the here, the students and even regular Everyday Americans like me, feel very, very strongly that the approach we take into dealing with Benjamin Netanyahu is rock the by going can do well, has had a group drop approach to the geo political attention were seeing in ukraine were seeing again in gaza. I dont feel that there is much leadership of the wheel and again, this is across the board. So okay, what were seeing right, that frustration coming to the force and what i think is most important though, is to remember what former President Trump said he would do. He said he would broker piece in the middle east or his son in law. He did not, we are so far away from the 8 solution. It is laughable, but this is the final point. Just in the past few weeks. Weve released audio as well as i think on the record statements. I could be wrong about that from president of warner, present drop, excuse me, would get as a candidate right now for the white house. See that being human that yahoo should call this off. This is not good. He needs to bring this to an end. Right. Okay. Jeremy, i can say i want him to jump in the and well, i think this is actually about something larger than the middle east for the last 2 to 3 years. Many politicians have been attacking universities and the same politicians who today are saying that universities like columbia and the university of texas to track down on an anti semitic speech. As i see, it are the same politicians who 2 or 3 years ago said we didnt have enough free speech, but there werent enough voices for conservatives on our campus. What i think were witnessing is that politicians, particularly the Republican Party, but not exclusively, but largely in the Republican Party, are fearful of a young generation that is more diverse, that has different view points and a young generation that is quite frankly opposed to most of what the Republican Party is about if were talking about abortion rights, if were talking about religious freedom, different talking about various things, us policy toward different parts of the world. Many of these protestors are also against what the Democratic Party is for, but they are seen as more threatening to the Republican Party. And so for the last 3 to 4 years, the Republican Party has been using universities as a whipping boy, as a place for which they can flex their muscles and show that they are conservative and show that theyre tough and blame students for problems that are not made by students and so i mean thats why this fell on that point. How do you think the College Administrators are standing up to that . Well, i think the College Administrators are doing a very poor job of standing up to that. And the reason theyre doing a poor job is 1st of all, they are hoping for goodwill from politicians. Many of these politicians who are attacking universities are the products of these universities. At least a phonic who graduated from Harvard University was the person who attacked the president of Harvard University. So 1st of all, administrators have to recognize that politicians are now more hostile than they were. And most administrators are trying not to be vocal. And if theyre not vocal, if theyre staying out of the debate, whats happening is theyre letting the politicians dominate the debate. We need to hear University Administrative stand up more vocally for free speech stand up for the rights and interests of students, not taking political sides, but defending what an academic environment is about. Do you agree with that are, and how does your rates present minutia, fix testimony at her congressional hearing . A parents did. Did she give students a students hand what they wanted to hear, but she was defending them . She was defending the right to free speech. I dont believe that that is what they heard, especially at Columbia University where there is an anti Semitism Task force that was created in response to the protesters and anti semitism was not defined. So we dont know what anti semitism is in regards to the task force. Its kind of like i, ill know it when i see it. I think ill be in the versity. What super interesting, as well as were seeing faculty stand up for Academic Freedom and freedom of speech, the faculty had a huge display on los Library Steps where essentially what they were saying is, although we might not all agree politically. A majority of us agree that students deserve the space to vocalize and protest. What they believe is right to have an environment where they can voice out their opinions. They can see what they believe and not be under threat of suspension, not be under right of eviction, not be under threat of losing their academic degrees. And i do think that largely on columbia is campus. Many faculty members are quite upset at the reaction, especially bringing the n y b deep into arrest protesters who are largely peaceful. I think that the slave really shock columbia as a society as a community to its core because its assumed that there are no each this being especially when the process has been as targeted as they were by administration. As pro palestinian students have been dealing with disciplinary action since we 1st broke, this happened on campus. And i do think that there is no more space for the students to vocalize and verbalize what they want to say. This is why they and cabinets such as specials space for them. Essentially, what is happening is when Students Walk into that encampment, they feel like youre living in the reality that is shared where they can share what theyre saying. They can be upset about it and still feel supported and around the community. Okay. Teachers have been as for them, so we can say youre wanting something that go ahead. Yeah. You know, i think its what the students have highlighted with these movements, which i believe well see more over the weekend and into next week is the, the so much gray thats here and, and look, ive been a political operative for a very long time. And trump had a great privilege of traveling the United States, speaking to rural and urban americans. And this is what rule americans also want. They dont want billions of our tax peer dollars going overseas to kill other people, to, to have other leaders decide indiscriminately to do what they want to do. You know, a lot of our Politics Today is sensationalized, but one thing thats not, is these dispatch is out of the middle east, out of ukraine, that show was the devastation that certain leaders are bringing to certain parts of the world. And that is a shock not only to the consciousness because we are getting it steadily, were getting in a way weve never had before. We are more technologically connected to the ballot box and ever before. And in the same way the thats coming is incessant. And that is what has shown the American People and students. This is what republicans should want. They should want critical thinking. They should want students to express themselves peacefully and really di, set these this to theres a lot of great here, but im not jewish. Im not most of them, but i can empathize of supply to both. You can be an american. I heard this from rural and urban american. You can be somebody that says im one of the hostages of october 7th and return. And i want the killing. Whatever be is doing and got to stop for there to be a per fire. There is a lot of great, youre the fortunately does it get talked about now and this movement is highlighting. So jeremy, theres a couple of weeks left of tom. Do see these protests continuing into the summer, even returning and the also, when the election happens in november . Well, i think we will see more protests for the next week or 2 of the term, but i do think theyll be some over the summer, but it will become more sparse. And that might be a good thing. There might be a cooling off period and what happens in the fall will be very much influenced by the events of the summer. Do events in the middle east continue to expand as the violets continue to expand their how does us policy change . How does the us governments role seen by students . So there are a lot of variables. What i do want to say though, is, although i agree with the points being made about how this that there, theres a lot of there should be a lot of agreement from rural voters with many of the things that we just said. I will say that attacking demonstrators of universities always works with verbal voters because world voters, the University Students as privileged. And even though they might not like spending money in the middle least, they see. But what students are doing or the way its depicted, they see it as unpatriotic. And this is why in the 1960s, in the 19 seventies and today, certain conservative politicians will often attack universities and attack the privilege of students and universities. Unfortunately, this is supposed to be effective, so republicans will continue to do this. I would expect to see more of it. Okay, to the last what to who, how would you like the university to respond Going Forward to these protests . So i think the response should be a genuine conversation and consideration with the demands the protesters are making. I think a lot of students and they can ment demanding that investment demands in financial transparency. Does that demanding amnesty as a result of the crack down needs to be heard . And i think a lot of the focus should be on the fact that they want actionable steps. They no longer want to be complicit. They want, there was us to be heard and i think i want to make a point to say that all the students do go to these prestigious universities. A lot of them are risking quite a lot to make the statement heard and to them it feels worth it. Once the time it has been told to me, last night was, were sitting in the university in camps, but we are optionally choosing to be here because there are no more universities standing in the us that they are saying that although the crackdown has been brutal, the focus should be thats on the fact that they are safe there and that students and leslie and other people, unless they are not sick. And i think there needs to be a real reckoning with the reasoning these protests are happening. I reason people demanding that last night. Dude, we do have to leave at the many things to only be great to hear your voice is on this topic. Ju todd, jeremy, sorry, and rena sean. And thank you too for watching me. You can see the program again any time by visiting a website thats out of there, dot com for further discussion to gauge well facebook page, thats facebook dot com forward slash 8 inside story. You can also join the conversation on x. All handle is apt, a inside story from me, laura kyle and the whole team here. Bye for now. The. The latest news as it breaks, another mazda gray of yours more power, city, and body love are 3 of the. Their identities are large, the last and on, on a president in war with in depth reports that scale this. Um, it was something theyve never seen before. From the heart of the story, almost 500 medical workers have been killed inside the gauze trip, putting more pressure on Health Care System that tens of thousands rely on a pod came in to be used as the aisle seat suffered casualties. We have not suffered states pilots is thank goodness we did have injuries from a missile strike on a guest house. Thought provoking on to who they to say no double stand to all of us. Any anyone in particular . I said, all facing realities government seems here to whittle down democracy if this is troubling for you. Its very, very painful via the story on talk to how does era exploring diverse cultural examining, political disco exposing societies, doctor Award Winning intense investigation the get compelling insights into humanity open until the stories from asia around the pacific. One. 0 one east. On out as the around the colleges here with the the, the hello im stymied, say them. This is the news our live from the coming up in the next 60 minutes student protests in solid hours. Who is palestinian spread across the us and beyond . Police move to shop some of them down us senator Bernie Sanders slams israels Prime Minister for quoting the student protests as he symmetric small