Tensions are high at universities across the U.S. as pro-Palestinian protesters spread, with demands that schools cut ties with Israel.
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00:00Police officers clash with protesters at a pro-Palestinian rally at the University of
00:09Southern California.
00:15These demonstrations have erupted at several college campuses in the United States as students
00:21protest university's financial ties to Israel and demand an immediate ceasefire to the Israel-Hamas
00:28war.
00:29It is insane that this educational institution that preaches all these high, lofty ideals
00:34about education and understanding and making the world a better place is making money off
00:39of death and destruction and genocide.
00:41The action has led to hundreds of arrests.
00:44It began peacefully at New York's Columbia University nine days ago.
00:50Students set up an encampment on the school grounds demanding they cut investments from
00:53any company supporting Israel's war in Gaza.
00:57Columbia University says it's holding talks with protesters to reach an agreement to remove
01:02the encampment.
01:03And it's also given them a deadline by which to dismantle their tents.
01:09Just metres away, House Speaker Mike Johnston was at the Ivy League school to address its
01:13Jewish students.
01:15He also called on protesters to end their demonstration.
01:20My message to the students inside the encampment is go back to class and stop the nonsense.
01:26These pro-Israel lawmakers called on the university's president to resign, saying the protests have
01:31made Israeli students feel unsafe.
01:35Those Israeli students at Columbia and several other colleges have staged counter-protests
01:40alongside pro-Palestinian rallies.
01:43It's a complex issue for US President Joe Biden to navigate, given America's support
01:49for Israel in the war and his dependence on these young voters at this year's election.
01:54The president believes that free speech, debate and non-discrimination on college campuses
02:00are important.
02:01They're important American values and so he'll always be very clear, we will always be very
02:07clear about that here.
02:09A message that's unlikely to satisfy either side of the argument.
02:14And the movement is growing, with students in Paris now calling on the government to
02:18help Palestinians.
02:20But despite the crackdown from police in the United States and the country's alliance
02:25with Israel, these outraged students continue to camp on university grounds, making it clear
02:31they won't stop until there is tangible action against the devastation unfolding in Gaza.
02:37James Lin and Rosie Greninja for Taiwan Plus.