In response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, protestors are expected to gather once again at the University of Texas Austin campus on Sunday afternoon. Organized by the Palestine Solidarity Committee, demonstrators are demanding that the university divest from weapons manufacturing companies selling arms to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and calling for the resignation of University of Texas President Jay Hartzell.

This protest follows a series of demonstrations that have taken place over the past week. While more than a hundred protestors were initially arrested for criminal trespassing, most of those charges have been dropped by prosecutors. However, a Fox 7 Austin photojournalist, who was arrested while live-streaming the protests, still faces misdemeanor assault and interference charges.

The campus demonstrations and the subsequent responses from university leadership have generated mixed opinions, leading to a heated debate about the boundaries of free speech on college campuses and the role of university leadership in managing protests.

Critics of the campus demonstrations have accused some protestors of engaging in antisemitic behavior. In response, the U.S. House passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act last Wednesday, which, if enacted, would establish the definition of antisemitism as determined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances. Opponents of the bill argue that it infringes on protesters' constitutional rights and raises concerns that criticism of the Israeli government could be labeled as antisemitic.

President Hartzell has faced significant backlash from faculty members, with over 600 UT Austin faculty signing a letter expressing no confidence in his leadership, following his request for the Texas Department of Public Safety to assist the university's police department. However, 36 UT alumni, including former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have expressed their support for Hartzell, praising him for maintaining a safe environment amidst the disruptive demonstrations.

In a recent opinion piece published in the Houston Chronicle, President Hartzell defended the presence of Texas DPS officers on campus during protests, stating that they were there to protect the safety of the campus community while assisting the University of Texas Police Department. He emphasized the outstanding capabilities of the university police department, but acknowledged its limitations in terms of size.

As protests continue at UT Austin, the debate surrounding free speech, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and the role of university leadership in managing demonstrations is likely to persist. The standoff between those demanding divestment from weapons manufacturing companies and President Hartzell's supporters adds further complexity to the situation.