Antisemitism on campus surges as agitators take over

Green Party 2024 presidential candidate Dr. Jill Stein was among 100 people arrested Saturday at Washington University in St. Louis, her campaign manager confirmed to Fox News Digital by email on Sunday morning.

Stein's campaign manager, Jason Call, said that he, Stein and deputy campaign manager Kelly Merrill-Cayer were all arrested at the encampent on the campus.

"The demand from the encampment was specifically for the university to divest from Boeing, which manufactures munitions used in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza at their nearby St Charles facility," Call said to Fox News Digital. "The Stein campaign supports the demands of the students and their peaceful protest and assembly on campus. Student protest for peace and civil liberties has always represented the best part of our collective moral conscience. Solidarity."

Here's a video of her detainment that she tweeted Saturday evening.

More than 100 people were arrested at the Washington University anti-Israel protest on Saturday, which is one of many demonstrations taking place this week at college campuses across the country.

USC has closed its campus to non-residents and cancelled on-stage graduations, more than 100 were arrested this week at Columbia University and dozens were arrested at the University of Texas on Wednesday. Demonstrations and protests have also taken place at Yale, Harvard, Minnesota, Johns Hopkins and Arizona State University, where 93 people were arrested on Saturday morning.

A woman is shown protecting the Tommy Trojan statue from getting further defaced on Saturday at the University of Southern California campus.

One anti-Israel protester had begun spray painting the statue with the letters "Say No To Genoci" before another person stepped in to stop them. The protester ran around the statue and managed to spray a red "d" on the end of it before running away from the protector.

The campus has been one hub of anti-Israel protesters ever since the school banned a pro-Palestinian valedictorian from delivering the commencement speech, and after unrests and arrests at Ivy League schools like Columbia and Yale, and the University of Texas flagship campus in Austin.

There have been around 500 reported arrests around the country this week, including 93 Wednesday morning at USC and 73 at Arizona State University on Saturday morning.

The Los Angeles Police Department issued a Citywide Tactical Alert on Saturday in the area of the University Park Campus at USC.

"Due to a disruption at the center of UPC, please avoid that part area until further notice," LAPD stated. "People are urged to avoid the University Park Campus. As of 7:30 p.m., no arrests or injuries had been reported."

Prior to that, USC tweeted that its UPC campus was closed Saturday to everyone except residents as tensions begin rising again.

"Due to a disturbance, the University Park Campus is temporarily closed except for residents," the university stated.

It's unclear why the citywide tactical alert was issued.

Fox 11 in Los Angeles contributed to this update.

The University of Southern California tweeted Saturday night that its University Park Campus (UPC) was closed to everyone except residents as tensions begin rising again.

"Due to a disturbance, the University Park Campus is temporarily closed except for residents," the university stated.

The university early in the week canceled its ‘main stage’ commencement after anti-Israel demonstrations.

“We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including places to gather with family, friends, faculty, and staff, the celebratory releasing of the doves, and performances by the Trojan Marching Band,” the university said in a statement Thursday.

More than 70 people were arrested Tuesday night because of "trespassing" and not leaving the private university during anti-Israel protests.

USC President Carol Folt called events on campus this week heartbreaking.

"This week, Alumni Park became unsafe," Folt said Friday to the USC community. "No one wants to have people arrested on their campus. Ever. But, when long-standing safety policies are flagrantly violated, buildings vandalized, (Department of Public Safety) directives repeatedly ignored, threatening language shouted, people assaulted, and access to critical academic buildings blocked, we must act immediately to protect our community.

"USC has long-standing protocols that allow for peaceful protesting, and we have been working successfully with our community to ensure these rules have been followed at gatherings, protests, and vigils taking place all year. USC also has firm rules regarding harassment and bullying that we will uphold."

Fox 11 in Los Angeles contributed to this update.

A group of anti-Israel protesters booked a room at the Washington Hilton and flew a giant Palestinian flag from its windows, pictures show.

The Hilton was hosting the White House Correspondents' Dinner at the same time as the massive anti-Israel protest. Code Pink, a left-wing activist group that organized the protest, accuses American media of "endors[ing]" the White House's support of Israel.

"The White House Correspondents' Dinner, traditionally a symbol of journalistic integrity and freedom, has now become a platform that celebrates and endorses the administration's actions," Code Pink said on its website. "The United States media perpetuates anti-Palestinian narratives and ignores Israeli war crimes."

"The Correspondents' Dinner is nothing more than a celebration and endorsement of the administration's actions. That is not journalism. That is complicity."

Anti-Israel agitators marched through the streets of Washington, D.C., on Saturday to protest American support of the Israeli military, taking aim at press and media members attending the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Code Pink, a left-wing activist group, organized a protest through Kalorama Park to the Washington Hilton, where the White House Correspondents' Dinner was being held Saturday night.

On its website, the organization accuses the media of "endors[ing]" the White House's support of Israel.

"The White House Correspondents' Dinner, traditionally a symbol of journalistic integrity and freedom, has now become a platform that celebrates and endorses the administration's actions," Code Pink argues on its website.

Read the full article about the White House Correspondents' Dinner by Andrea Vacchiano

Linda Sarsour, a political activist best known for her work during the 2017 Women's March, spoke at an anti-Israel rally at Princeton University on Saturday.

Sarsour, who is Palestinian-American, applauded the crowd for gathering in protest of the Israeli military, which is actively waging a war against Hamas militants.

"Here you are today, my dreams manifested," the activist said to the crowd. "They're going to tell you that you are wrong. They're going to say a whole lot of things about you."

In a video posted to social media, Sarsour also likened the crowd to Vietnam War protesters during her speech.

"I came to remind you that the same things that they will say about you now, they said about the students who stood up against the Vietnam War," she said. "They said the same thing about the students that stood up to South African apartheid. So you are not doing anything brand new."

"You stand in a long history of freedom and liberation for all people, including the Palestinian people."

Sarsour also defended the use of the divisive "From the river to the sea" chant while addressing the crowd.

"We've had people spending hours of national television writing two thousand words about 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.' That's just an indication for you to keep saying it," she said.

A Jewish Princeton University freshman recounted the virulent antisemitism he witnessed on the Ivy League campus at an anti-Israel protest encampment this week.

Maximillian Meyer of New York told Fox News Digital that protesters flew Hezbollah flags and chanted in support of Hamas as the wave of anti-Israel activism that continues to wash over some of America's top institutions came to Princeton — placing Jewish students in fear of attending classes and engaging in regular student life. 

"The craziest thing to me is the fact that I saw the Hezbollah flag multiple times, and I wasn't even shocked," Meyer said in an interview. "And I thought that that is more emblematic of the moral rot that has taken hold on our college campuses — of our so-called elite college campuses — than anything else. The fact that not only do we have Hezbollah flags, not only are there chants supporting the Houthis, chants supporting Hamas, but that we're not even surprised. It has become ubiquitous. And that is devastating."

Read the full article about Princeton University by Chris Pandolfo and Haley Chi-Sing

Two young women recently joined Fox News Channel on Saturday afternoon to discuss the destructive anti-Israel protests at universities across the United States.

George Washington University student Sabrina Soffer and recent Wake Forest graduate Yasmine Lame both criticized agitators for threatening Jewish students.

"As a Jewish student today at George Washington University, I'm really appalled by what's going on," Soffer said. "But I'm honestly not surprised, and Jewish students are not safe, and they haven't been."

The current college student blamed the left-wing faculty for the radicalization of GWU students.

"This has been in the making as a result of a combination of radical faculty who have been hired by the university and allowed to teach with no diversity in that camp of faculty, in addition to a weak administration that refuses to enforce their policies," she added.

Lame told Fox News that, at a rally, one her Jewish friends at UCLA was pushed off a ledge and nearly cracked her skull open.

"I do think that there needs to be a crackdown on this chaos that's going on on campus, because ultimately, by refusing to crack down, it's just allowing this sort of mob rule to take over," she said. "Allowing the claim that this is freedom of expression, which is not because freedom to protest, which I am all for, is actually leading to the harassment of Jewish students."

Police arrested 69 anti-Israel protesters at Arizona State University (ASU) early Saturday morning over their "unauthorized encampment," according to a new press release.

"ASU Police arrested 69 people early Saturday for trespassing after they set up an unauthorized encampment, in violation of university policy," a statement from police read. "Encampments are prohibited on Arizona State University property. Lawful demonstrations can take place except overnight between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m."

Authorities also added that most of the demonstrators had no connection to the university itself, and were warned "multiple times" before arrests were made.

"A group of people – most of whom were not ASU students, faculty or staff – created an encampment and demonstration that continued until 11 p.m. when the group was instructed multiple times to disperse," the statement added. "Individuals who refused to leave after multiple warnings were arrested and charged with criminal trespass."

"While the university will continue to be an environment that embraces freedom of speech, ASU’s first priority is to create a safe and secure environment that supports teaching and learning." 

University of Southern California student Morgan Farrier joined "Fox & Friends" on Saturday to discuss her school's decision to cancel its commencement ceremony because of the anti-Israel protests.

Farrier, a correspondent for Campus Reform, a conservative website that covers higher education, said the university could have done more to make sure the students who paid tuition were able to have a normal graduation ceremony.

"That's the saddest part. They do have a $7.3 billion endowment, and so there were certainly things that they could do and resources that they could pull that could have prevented this from getting to this situation," Farrier said. 

USC announced Thursday that it was canceling its main stage commencement ceremony for 2024 graduates as anti-Israel protests have shut down its campus. 

"With the new safety measures in place this year, the time needed to process the large number of guests coming to campus will increase substantially. As a result, we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.," USC stated on its website.

Farrier acknowledged there are "logistical issues" with having to reorganize commencement in just two weeks, but insisted it should be the students' choice whether they wait in long lines for security to attend the main commencement. 

"I think commencement is an important thing for a lot of students, that's the sort of thing you should be willing to put some of your resources into," she said. 

Fox News Digital's Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this update.

The George Washington University Law School has relocated final exams because of the encampment set up at University Yard.

Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew announced steps to ensure exams were held in a "quiet and secure location" on Thursday as anti-Israel protesters disrupted normal operations at the school. 

"Now let me emphasize, there is nothing threatening your safety that is going on at this moment, but yet you our primary concern. To protect your safety and the integrity of our academic program, we are relocating student final exams," Matthew said in a video message. 

Protesters were seen blocking off half of University Yard with tents on Saturday morning. There was a police presence and about a dozen protesters shortly before 11 a.m.

Officials have installed barricades that divided the Yard and confined the encampment to its northern half, separating the protesters from Lisner and Bell Halls, as well as GW Law. 

An official said students will still have access to the bathrooms in Corcoran Hall. Protesters placed their tents flush against the barricade. 

Fox News' Leah Crawley contributed to this update.

Columbia University students organizing an anti-Israel encampment on campus told the Associated Press there was no progress in negotiations with the school's administration on Friday.

A deadline for the student protesters to dismantle their encampment came and went, but the tents remain up. Student activists say the school has not met their demands to divest from Israel, end policing on campus and release a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, among other demands.

“We will not rest until Columbia divests,” said Jonathan Ben-Menachem, a fourth-year doctoral student.

Columbia officials earlier had said that talks were showing progress. 

“We have our demands; they have theirs,” university spokesperson Ben Chang said, adding that if the talks fail, Columbia will have to consider other options.

But while negotiations are at an impasse, Columbia President Minouche Shafik faces calls from faculty members for an investigation into her leadership.

The Columbia University Senate voted 62-14 for a resolution that alleges Shafik, who has been on the job less than a year, violated established protocols when she authorized the New York City Police Department (NYPD) to enter the campus and arrest protesters last week.

Specifically, Shafik is accused of violating the due process rights of students and faculty when she authorized officers to enter the campus.

"The administration and Senate share the same goal of restoring calm to campus, so everyone can pursue their educational activities," the university said. "We are committed to an ongoing dialogue and appreciate the Senate’s constructive engagement in finding a pathway forward."

Fox News Digital's Greg Wehner and the Associated Press contributed to this update.

The University of Texas at Austin has suspended its Palestine Solidarity Committee (PSC) chapter for its involvement in the anti-Israel protests on campus this week.

The PSC said in an Instagram post that the suspension was an "attack on free speech" and accused school President Jay Hartzell and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott of authorizing police to "violently attack and arrest protesters on campus." 

"We recognize UT’s intimidation tactics for what they are: our suspension is the latest instance of a pattern of censorship. UT’s repression of our free speech reinforces a racist narrative that devalues Palestinian life," the PSC said. 

On Wednesday, Hartzell released a statement that unequivocally defended his decision to shut down an anti-Israel protest on campus, where more than 30 people were arrested.

"Our rules matter and they will be enforced," he said in a lengthy statement that recognized that there was "a lot of emotion surrounding these events."

"This has been a challenging day for many," Hartzell wrote in a statement addressed to the UT-Austin community. "We have witnessed much activity we normally do not experience on our campus, and there is understandably a lot of emotion surrounding these events."

"Today, our University held firm, enforcing our rules while protecting the Constitutional right to free speech. Peaceful protests within our rules are acceptable. Breaking our rules and policies and disrupting others’ ability to learn are not allowed. The group that led this protest stated it was going to violate Institutional Rules. Our rules matter, and they will be enforced. Our University will not be occupied," the president added.

Fox News Digital's Lawrence Richard contributed to this update.

The Emerson College Student Government Association has voted no confidence in President Jay Bernhardt following the arrest of more than 100 anti-Israel protesters on campus.

The Emerson SGA said Friday the closed-door vote was unanimous and released a resolution calling for the immediate resignation of the school's president. The resolution condemned "violence administered by Boston Police and Massachusetts State Police against the protesters" and accused Bernhardt of failing to acknowledge and condemn said violence, local news station 10 Boston reported. 

The vote came after 118 people were arrested at the anti-Israel encampment at Boylston Place Alley on Tuesday.

The Emerson College Board of Trustees released a statement defending Bernhardt after the vote.

"At a time when freedom of speech and higher education itself are besieged by outside forces, the Emerson College Board of Trustees encourages our community to come together. The differences we may have today within Emerson are shades of a shared vision for civil dialogue, peaceful protest, and respect for human diversity. We chose Jay Bernhardt as a transformational leader who could bring us together in difficult times. The board remains confident in President Bernhardt’s leadership and unequivocally supports his presidency." 

Police officers in riot gear worked early Saturday morning to clear an anti-Israel encampment at Northeastern University in Boston, where about 100 protesters had gathered.

State Police and campus officers encountered the demonstrators on Centennial Quad at around 5:30 a.m. and warned them to leave the area, the Boston Globe reported. Soon after, police reportedly set up metal blockades around the encampment to prevent people from entering. 

Local news media coverage showed several protesters being escorted away with their arms held behind their backs. It is unclear how many people were arrested.

Michael Armini, Northeastern’s senior vice president of external affairs. told the Boston Globe that administration officials had "tried to talk to students several times" since the encampment was set up on Thursday but were unsuccessful.

A university spokesperson told Boston 25 News the encampment is a violation of the school's Code of Student Conduct. 

On Thursday, the University's Dean of Students Chong Kim-Wong visited the protest with a megaphone and warned participants that anyone found to be without a Northeastern student ID would be asked to leave campus.