Campus Protests Against War in Gaza Heat Up in Major U.S. Cities

College campuses in Washington D.C. and Chicago are becoming battlegrounds for pro-Palestinian protests as students demand action from their institutions amid a larger reckoning on campuses nationwide. The Israel-Hamas war has ignited debates about free speech, with concerns rising about antisemitism and Islamophobia on campuses. Students and faculty are establishing encampments, staging rallies, and demanding divestment from Israel-connected companies. The groundswell of activism is colliding with high-profile events, like the White House Correspondents' Dinner in D.C. and rallies planned at Chicago universities. Pro-Palestinian activists are facing pushback from university administrations, with threats of arrests and warnings about violating university policies. The protests are part of a growing movement across the country, with demonstrations planned at various universities in major U.S. cities.