An elderly woman is dragged down the street by a policeman. Her crime? Attending a protest.

Last week, Noelle McAfee, a philosophy professor at Emory University in Atlanta, GeorgiaA state in the southern USA. Also a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia. , was arrested. She had been taking part in a student-led demonstration against the war in GazaThe smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt. . For many, this was an attack on the right to protest.

Since the start of this war on 7 OctoberOn 7 October 2023, the Palestinian group Hamas, which controls Gaza, carried out a series of surprise attacks on Israel, killing more than 1,000 people and taking more than 200 hostages. , pro-PalestinianPalestine is an area of the eastern Mediterranean region, including the West Bank, Gaza Strip and parts of modern Israel. It has been fought over by Arab and Jewish national movements for many years.  demonstrations have taken place at numerous American colleges. The protests were sparked by anger at IsraelA country in the Middle East, and the only Jewish nation in the modern period. It is seen by Jews, Christians and Muslims as the Holy Land.'s offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. The USA is a key allyA country that has agreed to support another one. of Israel.

On 17 April, students at New York's Columbia University established a protest camp in the centre of the campus. The following day, police dispersed the camp and arrested over 100 people. This inspired more protests throughout the country.

Freedom of speech is a vital part of a liberal education. Similarly, the right to protest is a vital part of a democratic society. However, many students and academics worry that the police are preventing legitimate criticism of American foreign policy.

According to Bassam Khawaja, a law professor at Columbia, the university's faculty "are really furious... even among people who don't support the protests^".1

However, critics argue that the protests are illegal. They are occupying private land and causing deliberate disruption to teaching. Numerous universities have been forced to move their classes online and even cancel their graduation ceremonies.

Jewish students also report feeling intimidated and harassed by the demonstrations. In his PassoverA major Jewish holiday celebrated in spring. message, US president Joe Biden appeared to agree, saying: "This blatant anti-semitismShowing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people. is reprehensibleDisgraceful. Deserving of criticism. and dangerous - and it has absolutely no place on college campuses."²

Free speech is protected in the US constitutionA document that sets out the fundamental rules according to which a country is governed, which are usually difficult to change.. However, the sight of police breaking up camps and arresting protestors looks more like an authoritarianEnforcing strict obedience to authority. state.

Universities are places where young people's minds are formed. Almost all agree that they should welcome diverging and even critical views. But inevitably, say many, it is all but impossible for any debate to take place when teachers and students are being marched off in handcuffs.

Is this how the "thought police" take over?

Yes: Shutting down protests is an attack on freedom of speech. Nobody is made safer by inviting the police onto a university campus with weapons and riot gear.

No: The protests are taking place on private property and intimidating Jewish students. University authorities have a duty to protect those students and ensure that teaching continues.

Or... Universities are meant to be places that encourage freedom of thought and expression. It should be possible to keep students safe while allowing protests to take place.