How Do College Protests Shape American Politics?
With the recent increase in pro-Palestine demonstrations at universities in the United States, the history of university protests has come back into the spotlight. Similar demonstrations supporting Palestine on university campuses have been held in the past on issues like free speech, racial justice, and anti-war sentiments, and have occasionally had profound effects on national policies.
USA Today, a news site based in the U.S., published an article examining student protests at American universities and their effects on national politics. In the article written by Kayla Jimenez, it was suggested that university actions supporting Palestine could also significantly impact U.S. politics. Jimenez mentioned the first student movement in recent U.S. history, which began with free speech protests at the University of California in 1964. Jimenez highlighted that these small sit-in movements transformed into large-scale rallies nationwide, eventually leading to changes in university policies.
Another significant event took place in 1970 at Kent State University in Ohio. During demonstrations against the Vietnam War, the National Guard opened fire, resulting in the death of four students. However, this incident led to student strikes nationwide and the closure of hundreds of universities. The Kent State protests became a significant turning point in American political life and, according to some analysts, were the beginning of the Watergate scandal that led to the end of Richard Nixon’s presidency. Similarly, in the 1970s at Jackson State College in Mississippi, police opened fire in a dormitory predominantly occupied by black students, killing two students and injuring fifteen others. This incident marked the beginning of anti-racial injustice protests on campus. The violent events at Jackson State were recorded as a significant beginning in the fight against racial injustices in America.
Jimenez emphasized that the protest culture on American university campuses has been a powerful voice for social and political changes to date, and the rapidly spreading pro-Palestine protests nationwide could also reshape American politics. Jimenez stated, "Ultimately, college protests in America continue to play a critical role in protecting fundamental values such as freedom of expression, equality, and justice," highlighting that students form a significant force in seeking more freedom and justice on their campuses and in society at large.