In a wave of ongoing anti-Israel protests on college campuses across the United States, over 2,800 individuals have been arrested by the police. The protesters, consisting of students and outside activists opposing the war in Gaza, have been demanding that colleges and universities fully divest from Israel. They have also set up illegal encampments, refusing to vacate until their demands are met.

The tensions escalated on Friday morning when law enforcement authorities dismantled the anti-Israel encampments at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the University of Pennsylvania. At UPenn, 33 people were arrested, while 10 arrests were made at MIT.

In Arizona, the situation turned volatile at the University of Arizona, where officers were compelled to utilize "chemical munitions" to disperse the anti-Israel protests on the campus. UC Berkeley also witnessed disruptions as a large group of protesters, including graduating students donning their caps and gowns, loudly chanted during the campus-wide commencement ceremony. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that hundreds of demonstrators participated in the protest.

Even UC Berkeley Law students protested their own graduation ceremony by interrupting speeches on Friday. Sydney Roberts, president of the Associated Students of the University of California, experienced a brief interruption during her address. Despite the unrest, she wryly commented, "This wouldn't be Berkeley without a protest." The Chronicle noted that UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ expressed sympathy for the protesting students, acknowledging their concerns about the violence in Gaza and the significant loss of life and destruction of educational institutions.

Meanwhile, UCLA Chancellor Gene Block is facing calls to resign in the aftermath of chaotic protests on the campus. The UCLA Academic Senate faculty, comprised of approximately 3,800 members, has been critical of Block's leadership, especially in light of recent violent clashes on campus. The faculty is now preparing to censure Block and issue a vote of no confidence, according to the student newspaper, The Daily Bruin.

The anti-Israel protests on US college campuses have now become a nationwide subject of concern, leading to a significant number of arrests and disruptions. Colleges and universities will need to find ways to address these protests while maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment for their students.