Campus protest: Tensions and Violence against pro-Palestinian students protesting ai UCLA(I)

 Police officers in riot gear intervened during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday to separate the two camps at UCLA University and repel the counter-protesters who had come to the university campus to fight. The police began dismantling barricades this Thursday.

campus protest

Clashes broke out overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday at UCLA University, after counter-protesters attacked pro-Palestinian activists who had occupied parts of the campus for several days. On Thursday, the police removed grilles and boards and several demonstrators were arrested.

What happened ?

A largely peaceful pro-Palestinian encampment set up at UCLA last week was attacked by counter-protesters shortly before midnight local time. Videos show the camp besieged by dozens of masked and hooded people appearing to want to break the barricades.

Several of them brandished long sticks: at least one person in the camp was hit in the head before falling to the ground.

“Pepper spray, tear gas, boards, bricks, fireworks - not firecrackers - were fired directly at the students,” Vincent Doehr, a doctoral student in political science at UCLA, told CNN and responsible for media relations for the demonstrators.

“They threw paving stones, pipes at us, they tore up wooden slabs to throw them at us,” Kaia Shah, another spokesperson, told AFP. “Every time those who tried to hold them had their heads exposed, they slapped us, hit us. » According to her, 25 students were hospitalized.

Did the police intervene?

UCLA security forces arrived about two hours after the clashes began, but did not initially intervene, an AFP journalist noted. Police in riot gear separated the two camps around 3 a.m. local time, pushing back counter-protesters.

“The limited and delayed response from campus law enforcement at UCLA last night is unacceptable and demands answers,” California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom responded on Wednesday. A California State Police unit had to be deployed due to the incapacity of officers on campus, he added.

(to be continued here)

Donald Trump accused opponent Biden of inaction in the face of the pro-Palestinian college protests

trump accused opponent

Joe Biden said Thursday that “order must prevail” in the face of a wave of demonstrations in American universities in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, which puts him in a politically delicate position six months before the presidential election. “Anti-Semitism and threats against Jewish students have no place on campus or in America,” the American president said.

“We are not an authoritarian country that silences people,” Joe Biden nevertheless assured during a short speech. “As president, I will always defend freedom of expression and I will defend the law just as forcefully,” he said.

“Vandalism, forceful intrusion, breaking windows, blocking campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes or graduation ceremonies, none of this falls within the scope of peaceful demonstration,” however listed the Democrat 81 years old. “It’s against the law.”

Accused of inaction

In the morning, his opponent and Republican predecessor Donald Trump accused him of inaction in the face of the pro-Palestinian college protests. “They are radical left-wing weirdos and we must stop them now because it will last and get worse,” he said upon his arrival at the New York court where he is being tried in an unprecedented trial for a former American president.

Joe Biden also said that he was not in favor of sending the National Guard, an army corps that depends on the states on the front line, to campuses.

A delicate political position vs presidential election

The American president, who will seek a second term against Republican Donald Trump in November, has until now remained silent in the face of the wave of mobilization and the police interventions to dislodge demonstrators, at Columbia University in New York or at the University of California (UCLA) for example.

Six months before the presidential election, in a polarized United States, the Democratic president finally committed to this issue likely to undermine his campaign.

This mobilization places the democrat in an extremely delicate political position. His policy of support for Israel has earned him strong criticism from young, progressive voters of Arab-American origin, while Republicans accuse him of allowing anti-Semitism to flourish on campuses. Joe Biden also assured that “no”, this protest movement would not change his strategy in the Middle East.

United States Presidential Election: in the middle of campaign, pro-Gaza campus protests divide universities and the country

campus protests - presidential election

Started more than two weeks ago, campus protests in favor of Palestine are now violently repressed by the American police. 

Joe Biden was forced to step in and toughen his stance for fear of appearing as the President of domestic chaos. Presidential election seems to be a second target.

The grass suffered a lot, but it will soon green again, protected by the dozens of New York police officers who, on Broadway, block the entrances to Columbia University, closed until the graduation ceremony scheduled for May 17. Some agents still wear the helmets and ninja outfits of the NYPD shock battalions, the same ones who stormed Tuesday, April 30 in the evening on the campus of the prestigious university to dislodge the tent camp of 300 pro-Palestinian demonstrators installed for two weeks on the central lawn of the university.

Close to presidential election, American universities in turmoil,noted the press this morning related to campus protests. Student anger in support of the Palestinians has been spreading in the United States for two weeks now. And with them, the images of clashes between barricaded demonstrators dislodged by riot police.

The newspapers' editorials speak this morning of “the healthy rebellion of American students”. They draw a parallel between this student mobilization and those against the Vietnam War and apartheid in South Africa. 

It doesn't matter, "if the students leave the auditoriums, if they abandon their classes, it is a last resort, desperate by the inaction and the powerlessness of politicians to put an end to the horror in Gaza ."

Joe Biden as a tightrope walker

 What impact this mobilization will have on the American election?. Should Joe Biden fear student anger? General opinion is Joe Biden is in a bad situation and this mobilization could cost him his re-election, noting that he has completely lost the youth vote.

Opposite, the Republicans are unleashing themselves against what they describe as “campus chaos”. Under the pretext of denouncing anti-Semitism, Republican elected officials are in reality attacking Democrats and the Biden administration. “It’s all Joe Biden’s fault,” they explain, accusing the American president of “blowing on the embers of anti-Semitism.”

While Joe Biden seeks a position of balance, defending freedom of expression while denouncing hateful acts and remarks, the Republicans do not bother with nuances. According to them, campuses have simply fallen into “tyranny and anarchy”.

Biden says 'order must prevail' on campuses

Joe Biden said Thursday that “order must prevail” in the face of a wave of demonstrations in American universities in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.

“Violent demonstrations are not protected, peaceful demonstrations are,” said the American president, who will seek a second term against Republican Donald Trump in November.

“Vandalism, forceful intrusion, breaking windows, blocking campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes or graduation ceremonies, none of this falls within the scope of peaceful demonstration,” listed the Democrat from 81 years old. “It’s against the law.”

“As president, I will always defend freedom of expression and I will defend the law just as forcefully,” he said. “But anti-Semitism and threats against Jewish students have no place

Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan - Major Aid Package Adopted in the American Congress

aid package

Ukraine: $61 billion in aid approved

The House of Representatives adopted this Saturday a vast aid plan for the allies of the United States, from Ukraine to Taiwan via Israel. The Senate could validate it as early as next week.

The American House of Representatives approved on Saturday April 20 a major aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as a possible ban on the social network TikTok.

This $95 billion envelope could be adopted by senators as early as next week. The Senate, unlike the House of Representatives where negotiations have been intense, is dominated by Democrats.

· Long-awaited aid to Ukraine

Nearly $61 billion, the majority of approved funds, is dedicated to the war in Ukraine. This money has been requested for months by Volodymyr Zelensky. American aid “will save thousands and thousands of lives,” the Ukrainian president said after the vote.

The United States is kyiv's main military backer, but Congress has not passed a large package for its ally since December 2022, mainly due to partisan squabbling. This aid was distributed during 2023, but the taps are now dry.

The text presented Wednesday provides nearly 14 billion dollars to train, equip and pay the Ukrainian army. Around $10 billion in economic assistance dedicated to the energy and infrastructure sectors will be sent in the form of a loan. The idea was suggested by Donald Trump, who believes that the United States should “stop giving money without expecting to be reimbursed”. This debt may, however, be erased.

A large part of the envelope will also be used to replenish the stocks of the American army and will return to arms factories in the United States.

The aid plan also authorizes President Biden to confiscate and sell Russian assets, so that they can be used to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine - an idea that is also gaining ground with other G7 countries.

· Funds for Israel and Gaza

The plan debated in Congress provides for $13 billion in military assistance to Israel, a historic ally of the United States, at war with Hamas. These funds will be used in particular to strengthen the Israeli anti-missile shield, the “Iron Dome”.

More than $9 billion is also planned to “respond to the urgent need for humanitarian aid in Gaza and other vulnerable populations around the world,” according to a summary of the text.

The project, however, prohibits any direct funding from the United States to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Israel accuses some of its employees of involvement in the October 7 attack carried out by Hamas.

As Joe Biden had demanded, this text devotes more than 8 billion dollars to stand up to China on the military level by investing in submarines, and on the economic level by competing with major Chinese projects in developing countries. development. Several billion dollars are allocated to Taiwan, an island of 23 million inhabitants that China considers one of its provinces.

The bill also provides for the ban on TikTok in the United States if the social network does not cut ties with its parent company ByteDance, and more broadly with China.

TikTok has been in the crosshairs of American authorities for several months, with many officials believing that the short and entertaining video platform allows Beijing to spy on and manipulate its 170 million users in the United States

University Protest: Biden supports 'freedom of expression', but will denounce the violence

University protest

American Universities have become a flashpoint for debate in the United States with an university protest movement across the country calling for an end to the war and more generally the Israeli occupation in the Palestinian territories, with the right accusing demonstrators of anti-Semitism.

Strong tensions

“The president believes that freedom of expression, debate and non-discrimination on university campuses are important,” declared his spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre during a press briefing at the White House.

Due of large University protest, tensions remain high in certain American universities, notably in New York and more widely on the east coast of the United States, after at the call of their leaders, the police arrested a number of students opposed to the conflict which is ravaging the Gaza strip.

“We think it is important that people can express themselves peacefully. But in the event of hateful rhetoric, in the event of violence, we must denounce it,” a White House spokesperson said on Wednesday, April 24.

Students denounce the United States' extensive military and diplomatic support for Israel

Candidate for re-election in November against Donald Trump, the Democratic president is himself torn between this support for Israel and the anger of part of the left-wing electorate, particularly among young people.

Joe Biden promulgated a major aid plan this Wednesday, particularly for Israel. This plan also includes billions of dollars to respond to the "urgent need for humanitarian aid", particularly in Gaza.

Pro-Palestinian manifestation picket White House Correspondents Dinner, as Biden ribs Trump

Biden attacked Trump

US President Joe Biden showed self-irony and attacked his competitor in the presidential election, at the annual Dinner Gala organized by the White House Correspondents' Association, an event.that provoked a demonstration against Israel's War in the nearby Gaza Strip.

Numerous high-profile guests, journalists and celebrities, arrived at the Hilton Hotel in the federal capital, while around 100 demonstrators gathered at the entrance. Some demonstrators shouted slogans like "Shame on you!".

Protest organizers said they aimed to bring attention to the high numbers of Palestinian and other Arab journalists killed by Israel's military since the war began in October. More than two dozen journalists in Gaza wrote a letter last week calling on their colleagues in Washington to boycott the dinner altogether.

"You have a particular responsibility to tell the truth to the powerful and uphold journalistic integrity. it is unacceptable to remain silent, out of fear or for career reasons, when journalists in the Gaza Strip continue to be arrested, tortured and killed for doing their jobs," wrote about 20 Palestinian journalists.

Joe Biden mocks Donald Trump at this White House Correspondents' Dinner. US President attacks his rival Donald Trump: “The 2024 election is in full swing. Yes, age is a subject. I am an adult running against a six year old child. Age is the only thing we have in common. »

"The 2024 elections are in full swing, and age, yes, is a topic," declared Joe Biden. Biden, self-ironies and ironies addressed to Trump: "Joe the sleeping one is still standing", "I am running against a six-year-old child"

Pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to disrupt the event.

Far from the laughter of the assistance that echoed in the hall, a demonstration took place in front of the hotel, where, from a window on the top floor, protesters suspended a Palestinian flag several meters long. Others gathered down in the street with placards and megaphones.

For months, every time the American president travels, demonstrators gather in protest against Israel's support of those who call him "Joe the Genocide" and who demand an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip.

Several Palestinian journalists have called on their American colleagues in an open letter to boycott this highly publicized event, which is the culmination of a week of worldly receptions.

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), an association based in New York, at least 97 journalists have been killed since the Gaza War began on October 7 between Israel and Hamas - 92 of them Palestinians.

Anthony Blinken : China is trying to influence election results

Blinken with Jinping in Beijing

Anthony Blinken says the US has seen evidence that China is trying to influence the upcoming presidential election

US State Secretary said the US had found evidence of Chinese attempts to "influence and possibly interfere" with the upcoming US election, despite leader Xi Jinping's earlier pledge not to do so. 

Blinken made this comments in an interview with CNN on Friday at the end of a three-day trip to China, where the top US diplomat spent hours meeting with senior Chinese officials, including Xi, while the two countries cross a series of controversial issues. from US control of technology to Beijing's support for Moscow.

Blinken said he repeated a message that President Joe Biden conveyed to Xi during their summit in San Francisco last November not to interfere in the 2024 US presidential election. At that time, Xi promised that China will not do so, according to CNN.

"We have seen, generally speaking, evidence of attempts to influence and intervene, and we want to make sure that this is stopped as quickly as possible," Blinken stressed when asked if China had so far violated its commitment Xi to Biden.

"Any interference by China in our election is something that we watch very carefully and it's totally unacceptable to us, so I wanted to make sure I heard that message again," Blinken said, adding that there was concern about to China and other countries that exploit the existing social divisions in the US in influence campaigns.

On the other hand, Beijing has repeatedly said it does not interfere in US elections, based on its principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries.