African American students (L-R) Joseph McNeil, Franklin McCain, William Smith, and Clarence Henderson hold a sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, Feb. 2, 1960. (Jack Moebes/News & Record, Greensboro/Creative Commons)

Student Protests: Success or Failure?

The Media Line Staff

06/03/2024

Al-Ittihad, UAE, May 18

Student protests against authority have been a fixture in Western countries for centuries. In recent decades, some demonstrations have managed to alter long-established, deeply entrenched laws. For instance, in February 1960, Black students in Greensboro, North Carolina, defied segregation laws by sitting at a Woolworth’s lunch counter designated for whites only. Despite being arrested, their action sparked a wave of sit-ins that eventually contributed to the desegregation of similar institutions. The 1964 mass demonstrations at the University of California, Berkeley, protesting state restrictions on free speech, succeeded in lifting those constraints. This movement galvanized other civil rights protests across the United States and played a pivotal role in the passage of new civil rights legislation under the Lyndon B. Johnson Administration. However, not all protests end triumphantly. In Eastern European and other communist nations during the Cold War, student protests often met with brutal crackdowns. Many students lost their lives, and governments, particularly in China, suppressed media coverage and censored any mention of these events. Currently, student demonstrations at American and other Western universities are protesting Israel’s military actions in Gaza. These protests have dominated headlines, highlighting confrontations between pro-Palestinian students and faculty on one side, and university administrations and law enforcement on the other. This period coincides with graduation ceremonies, drawing thousands of students’ families and friends to campuses. Fortunately, there have been no violent incidents akin to those in past protests. The recent Israeli attack on Rafah in southern Gaza has not been as severe as assaults on northern and central Gaza. Additionally, students’ demands for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and university divestment from Israeli companies have been largely rejected. Enhanced security measures and stricter penalties against disruptive behaviors have likely contributed to the recent lull in disturbances. Another significant factor is the strong backlash against pro-Palestinian activism by pro-Israel groups, affluent parents, and US political bodies threatening to cut funding for universities that fail to enforce the law. The most notable development is the evolving narrative that recognizes the extensive suffering of Palestinian civilians due to Israeli actions but also attributes blame to Hamas for instigating the violence. Reports increasingly depict frustration among Gaza civilians, who believe their plight will persist as long as Hamas continues its hard-line stance and keeps Israeli hostages in limbo. Despite the ongoing hostility between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel student groups, there is a glimmer of hope. Over time, increased understanding of the complexity of the issues may foster greater tolerance and openness to alternative solutions aimed at fostering mutual trust. —Geoffrey Kemp (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)