An elderly woman is dragged down the street by a policeman. Her crime? Attending a protestAround 500,000 people attended the Women's March on Washington on January 21st. Similar marches took place in cities around the world; it is thought that around 5m people took part..

Last week, Noelle McAfee, a teacher at a university in GeorgiaA state in the southern USA. Also a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia. , was arrestedStopped by the police and taken to a police station. . She had been taking part in a student-led protest 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. .

As well as Professor McAfee, many students have been arrested across the USAThe United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million. .

The USA is a key supporter of 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.. The protesters do not agree with the USA's support for Israel's war on Gaza, which began after 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. and has killed more than 34,000 PalestiniansPeople from Palestine, an area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia. .

On 17 April, students at New YorkA city in the USA. It is in a state also called New York. 's Columbia University set up a protest camp. The next day, police arrested over 100 people.

The right to protest and freedom of speech are key parts of any democraticA democratic election is one where all eligible citizens are free to vote, where votes are counted fairly and all political parties have fair and free access to communicate with voters. society. However, many worry that US police are preventing criticism of America's actions abroad.

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

However, critics argue that the protests are disrupting teaching and intimidatingCausing someone to feel fearful or threatened. Jewish students. In his PassoverA major Jewish holiday celebrated in spring. message, US president Joe Biden appeared to agree, saying: "This blatantUndisguised, obvious and unashamed. anti-semitismShowing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people. ... has absolutely no place on college campuses."

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 campusThe buildings and grounds of a university or school. with weapons and riot gear.

No! The protests are taking place on private land and intimidating Jewish students. Universities must protect all students and make sure that teaching can go ahead.

Protest - Around 500,000 people attended the Women's March on Washington on January 21st. Similar marches took place in cities around the world; it is thought that around 5m people took part.

Georgia - A state in the southern USA. Also a country at the intersection of Europe and Asia.

Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.

Gaza - The smaller of two Palestinian territories, home to two million people. It is located on the Mediterranean coast, bordered by Israel and Egypt.

USA - The United States of America is a country in North America. It has a population of 329 million.

Israel - A 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.

7 October - On 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.

Palestinians - People from Palestine, an area located in the Southern Levant region of Western Asia.

New York - A city in the USA. It is in a state also called New York. 

Democratic - A democratic election is one where all eligible citizens are free to vote, where votes are counted fairly and all political parties have fair and free access to communicate with voters.

Intimidating - Causing someone to feel fearful or threatened.

Passover - A major Jewish holiday celebrated in spring.

Blatant - Undisguised, obvious and unashamed.

anti-semitism - Showing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people.

Campus - The buildings and grounds of a university or school.