In the past 10 days, a staggering 900 protesters have been arrested at pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses across the United States, marking the largest police response to campus activism in years. The arrests have sparked a heated debate about free speech, antisemitism, and police tactics in the face of escalating tensions between pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters.

The demonstrations varied in nature, with some peaceful sit-ins taking place on sunny grassy areas, while others descended into vitriolic confrontations with counterprotesters. In response to calls for a cease-fire in the Israel-Gaza conflict and demands for universities to divest from Israeli financial interests, some administrators felt compelled to involve law enforcement, citing instances of hate speech, antisemitism, and violence that marred certain protests.

The police responses on different campuses were mixed. In some cases, law enforcement issued repeated warnings and conducted orderly arrests, while on other campuses, clashes between protesters and police escalated into physical confrontations. Videos recorded incidents of police using chemical irritants and stun guns to subdue individuals. School officials emphasized that certain demonstrations had been infiltrated by outside organizers with no affiliation to the university, resulting in a chaotic and volatile atmosphere.

The wave of arrests began on April 18 when Columbia University President Minouche Shafik requested assistance from the New York police to clear student demonstrators. The move resulted in the arrest of over 100 individuals on the Manhattan campus and sparked further protests nationwide. University presidents have faced mounting political pressure to avoid being seen as appeasing anti-Israel demonstrators, particularly after instances of alleged antisemitism resulted in controversy and criticism for former Harvard and University of Pennsylvania presidents.

Phillip Atiba Solomon, a Yale professor and co-founder of the Center for Policing Equity, noted that university presidents are grappling with a challenging situation. Balancing political pressures, concerns for student safety, and the upcoming commencement ceremonies, they have felt compelled to involve law enforcement. However, Solomon warned that such actions could alienate students and escalate tensions between police and protesters, echoing concerns raised during last year's racial justice demonstrations.

Experts emphasize the complexities faced by law enforcement agencies in managing youth-driven protests in the age of social media. Traditional policing guidelines for civil disobedience have become outdated as leaderless and fractured protest movements make negotiations ineffective. The ability to organize protests spontaneously and anonymously online presents challenges for law enforcement, while the presence of masked bad actors seeking to escalate conflicts poses additional risks.

In response, some law enforcement agencies have displayed an overwhelming show of force to intimidate protesters, with large numbers of personnel and formidable armor. However, critics argue that this approach further erodes trust between police and protesters, especially in a climate where police actions during protests are heavily scrutinized.

The campus protests have also exposed a legal grey area, as universities grapple with removing protesters before involving law enforcement. Indiana University, for example, revised a decades-old policy to restrict temporary structures and signs without permits in order to clear demonstrators from a park on campus. The university's move was followed by the arrest of 34 protesters, ranging from charges of trespassing to battery on a public safety official.

As the nation continues to grapple with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the broader issues of free speech and policing, the campus protests serve as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by universities, law enforcement, and protesters alike. The balance between respecting free speech rights and ensuring safety on campuses remains a contentious subject, with concerns over antisemitism, violence, and the potential for tragic outcomes fueling the heated debate.