Tear gas, student protests – except it’s the US, not 2019 Hong Kong

Student protests across more than 25 US universities over the Gaza war have turned violent with the police moving in, and tear gas and stun grenades used
The situation presents significant challenges, with opinions polarised and deep divides among communities and families. In Hong Kong, the healing has yet to truly begin

Bernard Chan

Published: 5:30pm, 2 May 2024

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In recent days, there has been a massive escalation of demonstrations and disruptions on university campuses across the US. While many protests have been peaceful, levels of disruption have increased, with student protesters creating encampments and occupying and barricading themselves inside university buildings. This has led to a breakdown in safety and security on many campuses, reminiscent of our situation in Hong Kong in 2019.

Students and, in some cases, faculty, staff and members of the public are demonstrating to voice their disapproval at the disproportionate response to the Hamas attack on Israel, which has resulted in the ongoing destruction of Gaza.

The demonstrators’ objective is to pressure the Biden administration to advocate for an immediate ceasefire and halt the provision of weapons and military support services that have led to the destruction of Palestinian civilian infrastructure.

There have been reports of Jewish undergraduates increasingly worried about their safety on many US campuses. At the same time, there are reports of Muslims, Arabs and others feeling threatened off campus. Once again, the situation is reminiscent of the concerns of students from mainland China over their intimidation and safety in Hong Kong in 2019.

Meanwhile, some students are understandably fearful that the conflicts and atrocities occurring around the world that may be affecting them or their families are simply not getting enough attention.

One of the US colleges affected is my alma mater, so I have been paying close attention from the outset as tensions heightened and the situation escalated. Opinions are sharply divided on student tactics and the appropriate levels of response.

From the beginning, university leadership, trustees and management have encouraged engagement and dialogue, striving to find manageable solutions. Despite these efforts, many demonstrators are only willing to engage when their demands are fulfilled.

Similarly, in Hong Kong in 2019, protesters refused to engage in dialogue unless their five demands were met. The result was extreme and violent confrontations on two of our university campuses. Protesters began wearing face masks to conceal their identities, allowing external influencers to infiltrate our campuses. Their purpose was agitation, and aggression and violence escalated.

Our university administrators faced a predicament. They were tasked with safeguarding students from potential confrontations with the police yet, simultaneously, they were forced to ask the police to restore normal campus operations and enforce law and order. We are seeing a similar situation unfold on campuses in the US.

From New York to Los Angeles, protesting students are demanding that their universities divest from corporations profiting from the war and those supporting Israel’s government and military.

They seek enhanced transparency in how their universities manage and invest their endowments. Alumni and other benefactors often contribute to these capital pools, which support operational expenses, scholarships, research and educational activities.

However, the divestment process can be complex due to the deep relationships between corporate America and the military.

By now, universities across the country have felt the necessity of allowing in the police to remove protesters, with over 1,000 arrested on more than 25 campuses covering at least 21 states. Tear gas and stun grenades have been used. However, some of their decisions have been criticised by people concerned about the implications for freedom of speech.

US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson takes questions from the media after meeting Jewish students, as pro-Palestinian students and activists protest against the Israel-Hamas war, on the campus of Columbia University in New York, on April 24. Photo: AFP

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson escalated tensions by suggesting the National Guard be deployed to restore order at Columbia University. He also called for the university president to resign. Pro-Palestinian student demonstrators have been suspended by Columbia and other colleges for failing to leave the campus after they were asked to do so voluntarily. Several pro-Palestinian student protesters have also been suspended for breaching college regulations.

In Paris, university authorities recently called the police to break up a tent occupation at the prestigious research university Sciences Po, and demonstrations have also occurred at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Students at Rome’s Sapienza University followed suit. Students at Oxford University disrupted a speech by former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi, while others have been rallying support at University College London, the University of Warwick and elsewhere. Protests are also being held at Australia’s University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne.

It is highly likely that the disruptions on university campuses will continue until the Israel-Gaza war stops. In the meantime, the situation will continue to present significant challenges, with opinions among students, faculty and alumni polarised, as was the case in Hong Kong in 2019. Communities and families were divided, and although it may no longer be a topic of discussion, it does not mean the healing process has truly begun.

Bernard Chan is a Hong Kong businessman and former Executive Council convenor